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Bashir et al., IJAVMS, Vol. 7, Issue 3, 2013: 108-116 Efficacy of Foliar Application of Micro Nutrients on Growth and Flowering of Gerbera jamesonii L. Muhammad Ajmal Bashir1*, Waqas ahmad1, Khawaja Shafique Ahmad2*, Muhammad Asif Shehzad3, Muhammad Aqeel Sarwar3, Muhammad Salman4, Imran Ghani1, Jamil Shafi5, Muhammad Iqabal1 1 Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (38040) Pakistan 2 Department of Botany, University of Agriculture Faisalabad (38040) Pakistan 3 Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (38040) Pakistan 4 Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (38040) Pakistan 5 Department of Plant Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (38040) Pakistan *Corresponding email: floricultureuaf@gmail.com Abstract The study showed the significant effect of foliar application of micronutrients on all the parameters. The height of plants in T2 increases by 5ml/1000ml solution. The application of micronutrients solution increases the number of branches per plant in T3 (6.69) by 5ml/l 000ml solution of water as compare to control followed by T2 (7.77), T1 (6.21), and T0 (4.87) respectively. Foliar fertilization improves the growth and development by providing essential nutrients. The T2 (35.87 cm) showed the maximum length of branches per plant. Therefore plants that received no fertilization of micro nutrients, show less length of branches per plant. Data regarding number of leaves per plant depicted significant results for treatments. These results have similarity to results of number of branches per plant indicated that plant which fertilized with essential micro nutrients that represent more number of leaves per plant as compared to other treatments levels. Application of micro nutrients solution increases the number of leaves per plant in T2 (8.10). A significant superiority of T2 treatment over T1 was observed. Emergence days was shorter for plants fertilized with T3 of micro nutrients solution compared to those received no fertilization but was longer compared to plants receiving other fertilization treatments. Fertilization had greater effect on the flower emergence as compared to control. Therefore we can conclude that plant which received fertilization of micro nutrients solution show significant results as compared to those which received no fertilization. Keywords: Foliar application, micronutrients, gerbera jamesonii, growth Introduction Gerbera (gerbera jamesonii) belongs to family, Asteraceae and has 40 species scattered from Africa to Madagascar into tropical Asia and South America. Gerbera is popular plant for the backyard and their daisy-like bloom make ongoing cut flora 1. Floriculture has been identified as a potential business due to divergence of farmers towards high value floral crops and utilization of flowers in social and industrial level in Efficacy of Foliar Application of Micro Nutrients on Gerbera jamesonii L. Pakistan. Commercial floriculture has emerged inside the country. The floriculture crops grown in Pakistan as cut flowers are roses, gladiolus, tuberoses, iris, narcissus, lilies, freesia, status and gerbera. Production of cut flowers in Pakistan is estimated at about 10-12 thousand tons per annum and floriculture is fast emerging as a profitable venture for small farmers 2. Many investigations studied the consequence of spraying macro and micronutrients on development, yield and fruit excellence 3.Zinc and molybdenum increasing levels resulted in increasing plant height, number of fruits, fruit diameter and fruit yield. However, rising levels resulted increasing in development and height and fruit yield 4. According to 5 plants are considered as biological machines, their bodies are constructed from macro-elements, their working parts consist of proteins and enzymes revolving about N atoms and the 'micronutrient' provide the special lubricants required for a variety of energy transfer mechanisms within the plants. Foliar feeding that is functional to plant leaves and leaves are green factories where multipart chemical process of photosynthesis produces the compounds that required for plant growth. Foliar feeding of nutrients has become an established procedure to increase yield and improve the quality of crop products 6.This procedure improves nutrient utilization and lower environmental pollution through reducing the amount of fertilizers added to soil. Foliar feeding of nutrients may actually promote root absorption of the same nutrient or other nutrients through improving root growth and increasing nutrients uptake 7. Foliar application of nutrients is in advance more significance in fertilization of various field and floricultural crops, in many countries. The advantages of foliar fertilizers were more noticeable under growing conditions restricting the incorporation of nutrients from the soil, as reported by 8.Foliar fertilization method may also be a good substitute to the predictable soil application to avoid the loss of fertilizers by leaching and thereby minimizing the ground water pollution 9. Zinc plays an important role in the production of biomass 10. It may be required for chlorophyll production, pollen function, fertilization 11. It was also reported by many researchers that zinc had a significant effect on corm and cormel production in Gladiolus 12. Recently, foliar fertilizers are extensively used in vegetable, fruit crops and ornamental plants that contain various macro and micronutrients, which are necessary for the proper growth and yield. So, present study was planned to examine the appropriate doses of major macronutrients in foliar absorption and also to verify the effect of these elements along with the spray of micro power on plant efficiency (vegetative growth, plant height, flower size and yield) of gerbera (gerbera jamesonii). Materials and Methods The present experiment was carried out at Floriculture Research Area, Institute of Horticulture Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad during the session of 2010-2012 to observe the effects of foliar application of micro nutrients on growth and flowering of Gerbera Jamesonii L. Newly transplanted plants at equal height were taken from nursery in 10 inches pots. The earthen pots were used. These pots were filled with standard growing media (silt + garden soil + leaf compost, 1: 1: 1) according to the layout of the experiment and transplanted next day in Floriculture Research Area, Institute of Horticulture Sciences. Three weeks after Bashir et al., IJAVMS, Vol. 7, Issue 3, 2013: 108-116 Efficacy of Foliar Application of Micro Nutrients on Gerbera jamesonii L. transplantation, the plants were sprayed with aqueous solution of micro nutrients with interval of 15 days. First spray was done after 30 days of transplanting. First irrigation was given just after transplanting while subsequent irrigation was applied when needed. Hoeing was done regularly to keep down the weeds and staking was done to support the plant and data was recorded as plant height (cm), number of branches per plant, length of branches per plant (cm), number of leaves, leaf area (cm), stalk length (cm), days to first flower emergence, flower diameter (cm) and flower quality. The experiment was conceded according to Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD). There were four treatments combinations comprising each three levels of urea (0, 1, 1.5 and 2.0%) and four levels of Zn (0, 0.5, 0.75 and 1%) were taken in the study. Four sprays were made on crop first after 15 days planting, second at 3-leaf stage third at 6-leaf stage and fourth after the harvesting of flower stalk to check the effect of nutrients on flower growth. The earthen pots size of 4.5"x4.5"x4.75" were taken and filled with standard growing media (silt + garden soil + leaf compost, (1:1:1) and plant were transplanted in Floricultural Research Area, Institute of Horticultural Sciences. Four weeks after transplantation the plants were sprayed with aqueous solution of micro nutrients with interval of 15 days. First spray was done after 30 days of transplantation. First irrigation was given just after transplantation while the subsequent irrigations were applied when needed. Hoeing was done regularly to keep down the weeds and staking was done to support the plant. The micronutrients formulation was taken from Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. The micro power had following ingredients and their concentrations were taken in mg / 100ml solution. The constant concentration (i.e. 5 ml/pot) was taken from this micro power solution. The data regarding all parameters was investigated statistically by performing analysis of variance techniques 13 and interpreted according to Duncan's Multiple Range (DMR) test at 5 probability level to compare the difference among treatment means. Results and Discussions Plant height (cm) From 4000 ± 200 mg / 100 ml solution of micronutrients foliar spray plants used for T 2 (44.35 cm), maximum plant height. Minimum plant height resulted in T0 (19.99 cm), and micronutrient solution was not applied. Micronutrient solution in a relatively high degree of control in T2 plants 5ml/1000ml solutions, followed by T3 (39.65 cm), T1 (31.76 cm), T0 (19.99 cm), respectively. As shown in Figure 4.2.1 in plant height graphics fluctuations. From this figure, it shows that all treatment levels were significantly different from each other. The results show that T2 (4000 ± 200mg/100ml solution: 5ml/l000ml, solution) to the maximum height, foliar application of micronutrients. T3 treatments (5000 ± 200mg/100ml: 5ml / 100 ml solution) got the second position (Figure 1). (Brady and Weil., 2000) observed that fertilizer application on Sangral carnation plant has a great influence vegetative growth, liquid NPK fertilizer, micronutrient is essential for plant growth, increase in plant height of a carrier 14. Number of branches per plant Data on number of branches per plant showed highly significant results for treatments. The minimum height of plant was resulted in T0 where nofoliar spray of micro nutrients used. Bashir et al., IJAVMS, Vol. 7, Issue 3, 2013: 108-116 Efficacy of Foliar Application of Micro Nutrients on Gerbera jamesonii L. Therefore number of branches per plant is minimum in T0.The application of micronutrients solution increases the number of branches per plant in T3 (6.69) by 5ml/l 000ml solution of water as compare to control followed by T2 (7.77), T1 (6.21), andT0 (4.87) respectively. The treatment of T2 and T1 is a significant among each other with T0 significantly with each other. Micronutrient levels increase, the number of branches per plant also increased (Figure 2). Micronutrient levels rise beyond the limits plant growth decreased. This factor the maximum number of branches reflects the highest concentration of monoclonal micronutrients in the leaves of plants. 15 studied the role of micronutrients, in order to improve production in gladiolus and 16 did experiments to determine the effect of zinc spray to increase the number of monoclonal branches. Number of leaves per plant It was found that all the treatment levels are significantly different from each other. Data related to number of leaves per plant show significant results. The number of leaves per plant directly influenced the flower quality. As greater number of leaves, produces better quality flower. All this is due to foliar spray of micronutrients. Therefore T2 treatment show greater number of leaves per plant and remaining treatments also give better results to foliar application of micronutrients spray (Figure 3). These results are related to the finding of Manna et al., (1985) to study the effect of foliar spray of micro nutrients in sweet orange to increase the concentration in leaves so that to produce healthy leaves which results in production of good quality fruit, 17 who studied the balanced fertilization with micro nutrients in plant nutrition that is important for the production of highly quality products. Leaf area (cm2) A significant relation among all the treatments of leaf area of gerbera plant was noticed by the spraying of micro nutrients solution. T2 treatment, showed the maximum leaf area as compared to other treatments Therefore all treatments are significantly differed from each other. Leaf area represents the foliage of plants that give excellent results after foliar spraying of micro nutrients. The food prepares by leaves and maximum leaf area provides more food to body of the plant to keep it health (Figure 4). These results are in agreement with 18 who noticed that leaf area of sunflower plants were increased by the addition of micro nutrients spray of Fe, Mn and Zn, 16 done experiment on gladiolus to observed greater leaf area as compared to control treatment by the spray of micro nutrients i.e., Zn. Stalk length (cm) The result indicated that4000±200mg/100ml solution of micro nutrients is superior over the treatments. Maximums talk length was obtained from the plants where 4000±200mg/100ml solution of micronutrients was used as foliar spray. The minimum stalk length obtained in T0 (17.44 cm) whereon micro nutrients solution was applied. It was clearly visualized that all treatment level are significantly differed from each other and their mean followed a sequence of T2, T3, T1 and T0 giving values 47.77 cm, 39.98 cm, 32.17 cm and 17.44 cm respectively. The result indicated that T2 plants get maximum stalk length i.e. 47.77 cm that get highest position. Treatment T3 obtains 39.98 cm length and occupies medium position and T1 has 32.17 cm length as shown in table 4.2.6 due to foliar spray of micro nutrients (Figure 5). The results are in Bashir et al., IJAVMS, Vol. 7, Issue 3, 2013: 108-116 Efficacy of Foliar Application of Micro Nutrients on Gerbera jamesonii L. agreement with 19 who conduct experiment on blue sage to enhance the length of peduncle and length of main inflorescence by the spray of zinc and tyrosine. Days to first flower emergence It is evident from the results those days for flower emergence was shortened with increased fertilization of micro nutrients. The emergence days were shortest for plants fertilized with T 2of the treatment level and longest for the plants which received no fertilization i.e. T0.Emergence days was shorter for plants fertilized with T3 of micro nutrients solution compared to those received no fertilization but was longer compared to plants receiving other fertilization treatments. The fertilization levels of micro nutrients shortened or lengthened the days to first flower emergence from 107.77 to 83.29 when fertilization level increased from 0 to5000±200mg/100 ml solution i.e. 5ml/1000ml solution(Figure 6). The fertilization level of micronutrients improves the growth and productivity of plants. These results are in line with 20 who stated that carnation has greater response to foliar application of boron with phosphorus combination and alone with different level of boron and give best results to flowering characteristics mean enhanced flowering time (vase life), reduced emergence days of flowering at 200mg/L of phosphorus and 50mg/L of boron. Flower diameter (cm) The result demonstrated that 4000±200mg/100ml solution (i.e. 5ml/1000ml solution of water) is dominant over other treatments. The maximum flowers diameter were obtained from the plants where 4000±200mg/100ml solution (i.e. 5ml/1000ml solution of water) of micro nutrients was used as foliar spray in T2.The minimum flowers diameter obtained in T0where no micro nutrients solution was applied as foliar spray, only simple tap water was used (Figure 7). These results are supported by the finding of Youssef et al., (2004) reported that foliar application of kinetin to Mattiola plants significantly promoted growth of plant. Plants are sprayed with tryptophan as precursor of auxin is synthesize with the help of zinc and causes stem elongation result in better growth and flowering diameter, 21 studies the response of schefflera plant to foliar fertilizer spray increased all growth parameters significantly specially flower diameter, 22 studies the effect of B, Mn and Mg on the growth of carnation as result flower diameter increased. Bashir et al., IJAVMS, Vol. 7, Issue 3, 2013: 108-116 Efficacy of Foliar Application of Micro Nutrients on Gerbera jamesonii L. Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure3 Figure4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Bashir et al., IJAVMS, Vol. 7, Issue 3, 2013: 108-116 Efficacy of Foliar Application of Micro Nutrients on Gerbera jamesonii L. Figure 7 Conclusion Analysis of variance for plant height revealed highly significant results for all treatments by foliar spray of micro nutrients. Application of micro nutrients solution increases the height of plants in T2 by 5ml/1000ml solution as compare to control followed by T3 (39.65 cm), T1 (31.76 cm), T0 (19.99 cm) respectively. It is indicated that all treatments levels were significantly different from each other. The data on number of branches per plant had reflected significant results for the treatments in case of micro nutrients spray. The application of micronutrients solution increases the number of branches per plant as compare to control. Statistical analysis for length of branches per plant has reflected highly significant results. Foliar fertilization improves the growth and development by providing essential nutrients. Therefore plants that received no fertilization of micro nutrients, show less length of branches per plant. The plant which fertilized with essential micro nutrients that represent more number of leaves per plant as compared to other treatments levels. Observation regarding leaf area showed significant results in case of foliar spray of micro nutrients as compared to control. The application of micro nutrients solution increases the stalk length in T2 by (47.77 cm) as compared to control. Therefore foliar fertilization of essential nutrients has great effect on flower diameter. Therefore we can conclude that plant which received fertilization of micro nutrients solution show significant results as compared to those which received no fertilization. References 1 Tjia, B, Black RJ, Park-Brown S. Gerberas for Florida. CIR527. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture Science 2008; http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg034. 2 Rehman F. An article on Rose Cut Flowers published in Farming Outlook January-March 2004. 3 Gobara AA, Ahmed FF, El-Shammaa MS. Effect of varying N. K. and Mg application ratio on productivity of Banaty grapevines. The fifth Arabian Horticulture conf. 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