Response of Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) to Ultraphyto Plus ‘8-8-8’ fertilizer

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of different doses of the liquid fertilizer (Ultra Phyto Plus ‘8-8-8’) on growth and flowering of the carnation cultivar “Can can scarlet”. The fertilizer doses were 0 ml/L, 1.25 ml/L, 2.50 ml/L and 3.75 ml fertilizer/litre of water. Treatments (doses) were laid in a completely randomized design with four replications. Data were collected on vegetative growth parameters namely; plant height, number of branches/plant and number of leaves/plants; flowering parameters namely number of flowers per plant, flower diameter and flower stalk length; leaf nutrient content, namely; leaf total nitrogen, leaf total phosphorus and leaf total potassium. Application of 2.5 ml/L of Ultra Phyto Plus ‘8-8-8’fertilizer resulted in significantly (P≤0.05) greatest values of all growth and flowering parameters, leaf total nitrogen, leaf total phosphorus and leaf total potassium compared to other treatments. The treatment of 2.50 ml/L water of the Ultra Phyto Plus ‘8-8-8’ liquid fertilizer may be recommended for the carnation cultivar “Can can scarlet”.