RESPONSE OF ZINNIA ELEGANS TO PHOSPHORUS AND

POTASSIUM FERTILIZATION

[64]

Hend, E. Wahba1

ABSTRACT

          Plants of Zinnia elegans Jacq. were planted in the Experimental Farm of  Medicinal and Aromatic plants during two successive seasons 1998 and 1999 to study the effect of phosphorus and potassium which were applied as soil dressing or foliar spraying. The plants were treated with phosphorus (P2O5 16.5 %) in doses 0, 200 kg/fed. as soil dressing, while phosphoric acid was sprayed  at 0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 % . Potassium (K2O 48.5 %) was added as soil dressing at 0, 100 kg/fed., while foliar treatments were used at 0.0, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 ml/L (potassium agricultural). All treatments applied in one dose or two equal splits. Phosphorus or potassium  fertilization significantly increased all vegetative, flowering and chemical parameters (seed yield, total carbohydrates, carotene, anthocyanin as well as fixed oil). The highest increase in this respect was found with spraying of phosphoric acid at 1.0 % or potassium at 7.5 ml/L with two equal splits. Gas liquid chromatographic analysis of the fatty acids revealed that the main fatty acids were oleic, myristic and linoleic. The highest methylated percent oleic acid (41.75 %) was obtained by full nutrition (NPK). Potassium at 7.5 ml/L as foliar spraying was effective in increasing linolenic acid (21.99 %).

BACK

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1