RESPONSE OF Gardenia jasminoides PLANTS GROWN ON VARIOUS GROWING MEDIA TO ORGANIC AMENDMENTS

Abstract

This investigation was conducted during two successive seasons of 2017 and 2018 to evaluate the efficacy of compost tea types prepared from different organic sources including filter mud, spent mushroom compost and vermicompost as well as the most suitable growing media on growth behavior and blooming of gardenia plants. The results showed that all organic fertilizers applied for Gardenia jasminoides plants grown in the mixture of sand and peat moss (1:2v/v) had the best results in comparison with the control plants grown in other growing media. Application of vermicompost tea fertilizer significantly improved all vegetative growth traits i.e. plant height, stem diameter, numbers of branches and leaves as well as increased leaf contents of total chlorophyll and elements of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. This reflected on producing flowers with good quality attributes of the plants. The highest populations of total bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes and dehydrogenase activity in the rhizosphere soil were attained by the application of vermicompost tea fertilizer for plants grown in sand and peat moss mixture. Key wrds: Gardenia jasminoides, peat moss, compost tea, NPK Fertilization.