Effects of Different Media on Growth of Pot Plants Dracaena marginata Ait. and Beaucarnea recurvata Lem.

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Abstract

Dracaena marginata Ait. (Madagascar dragon tree) and Beaucarnea recurvata Lem. (Elephant foot or Linda) are important foliage pot plants in Iran and worldwide. Suitable media is the most important parameter for growing of pot plants. The present experiment was carried out with 11 treatments in four replicates for application of agricultural or industrial wastes and evaluation of their effects on growth of foliage pot plants dracaena and elephant foot. Results showed that media containing 50% tree bark and 50% tea waste, 50 or 80% tea waste and 50 or 20% perlite, respectively and 67% leaf mould and 33% tea waste (grower's medium) had the highest effect on number of produced leaves and plant height, or tuber diameter in dracaena and elephant foot. Media containing 80% tree bark and 20% municipal compost and 80% tea waste and 20% rice hull had suitable effect on number of produced leaves produced leaves and tuber diameter of elephant foot. Based on the results of this investigation, municipal compost, with low volume, can be used for growing of pot plants that are tolerant to nearly high electrical conductivity (5 mS/cm). Dracaena and elephant foot plants in desirable media, provided from agricultural or industrial wastes in this experiment, showed higher growth than in commercial media containing 50 or 80% peat and 50 or 20% perlite, respectively.

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Seed and Plant Production Journal
Volume 25, Issue 1
May 2009
Pages 63-77

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