Browsing by Author "Rathnayake, R.M.D.C."

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    Selection of an effective biofilmed biofertilizer formulation and best potting medium for anthurium (Anthurium andraeanum)
    (Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2015) Rathnayake, R.M.D.C.; Gunadasa, H.K.S.G.; Jayasinghe, H.A.S.L.; Seneviratne, K.A.C.N.
    Anthurium is identified as one of the crops prioritized for the development and export promotion in Sri Lanka (Kelegama, 2001). Optimum growth and flowering of Anthurium mainly depend on potting medium, fertilizer and light levels (Higaki et al, 1994). Potting medium rich in nutrients and effective fertilizers can be used for the optimum growth of this plant. Beneficial biofilm based biofertilizers called biofilmed biofertilizers (BFBFs) have been introduced recently (Seneviratne et al., 2010). Present study was focused to select an effective biofilmed biofertilizer formulation and evaluate the comparative effect of different potting media on vegetative growth of Anthurium andreanum plant. Methodology The present study was carried out at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya. Two experiments with different treatments were conducted during this study. First experiment was conducted under shade house conditions with different fertilizer treatments; 50 % chemical fertilizer (CF), 50 % CF + BFBF and100 % CF recommended for Anthurium was selected as the control. In the second experiment, four different potting media (inert particle mixture, coir chips, leaf litter with sand, control) were used and the existing potting medium, which was used at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Peradeniya was taken as the control. Different BFBF with 50 % CF application was under taken at one week interval for the plants of the first experiment and 50 % CF application was under taken at one week interval for the plants of second experiment. Initial data were collected before the plants establishment and final vegetative growth parameters were measured after three months of plant establishment in both experiments. Plant height (cm), plant weight (g), total root length (cm), leaf number, leaf area, root number and the chlorophyll content were considered as the vegetative growth parameters. Treatments were arranged in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD). Mean separation was conducted using the Tukey method (P< 0.05). MINITAB 16 statistical package (Minitab Inc.) was used for data analysis in both experiments.