Determination of a suitable growing medium and a commercial fertilizer for Echinodorus parviflorus ‘Tropica’ in the nursery level
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Aquatic Plant varieties have unique morphology and habitats as commercially important aquatic
plants. Dissanayakel., 2007). The most popular ornamental aquarium plants genera are Anubias,
Cryptocoryne, Echinodorous, Aponogeton, Hygrophyla, Bacopa, Hydrilla, Cabomba, Myriophyllum,
Aponogeton and Echinodorous have important characteristics as aquarium plants in Sri Lanka.
Echinodorus species have attractive green to mid green submerged leaves arranged in a rosette with
beautiful, white flowers occurring in an inflorescence (Muhlberg, 1982). Aquatic plants play a
significant role in the freshwater ecosystems worldwide. With time ecosystem may collapse without
aquatic plants due to wild collection. Therefore growing plants is solution for that. An aquatic plant
growing medium was essential for that. The growing mediums contain sand, silt and clay proportion
according to the ratio of the medium. Four different ratios were used as treatments (T). T1- Boggy
soil: Bricks particles T2- 3:1, Boggy soil 3: Sand 1, T3-Boggy soil: Top soil -3:1, T4-Top soil were
treatments. Growing medium should balance the aeration and water for maximum root growth and
physically support for the plant. Practical size of the growing medium should be with adequate pore
spaces between the particles (Bilderbackl., 2005)
Nutrition is a major factor for the plant growth. Therefore nutrient should be supplied in optimum
level at the correct time as fertilizers.
Methodology
The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of growing medium and fertilizer for the
growth
of
Echinodorus parviflorus‘Tropica’
National
Aquaculture
Development
Authority
(NAQDA) Ornamental Fish Breeding and Training center in Rambadagalle Sri Lanka. Experiment
one was conducted to find out a suitable nursery medium for the E.parviflorus ‘Tropica’ plant. Boggy
soil, brick particles, sand and top soil were used. Using those growing substrate four types of media
used as treatments (T), T1- Boggy soil: Bricks particles T2- 3:1, Boggy soil 3: Sand 1, T3-Boggy
soil: Top soil -3:1, T4-Top soil were treatments. Experiment two four fertilizer mixture used as four
treatment of fertilizer, T1-N: P: K -4:2:1, T2- N: P: K -5:2:3,T3- N: P: K -3:1:1and T4- N: P: K -
20:20:20 were used during this study.
Uniform Echinodorus parviflorus ‘Tropica’ about 4.5 cm -6.5 cm heights, same age plants were
selected for the experiment. Old and rotted leaves were removed; leaving 5- 6 laves to remain. Old
and rotted roots also were trimmed, leaving the only healthy roots. Initial weights between 0.5 g - 1.5
g of plants were selected.Experiment one and two results were analyzed by using Minitab 16
computer package and significant differences between treatments were identified using Analysis Of
Variance (ANOVA) produce at 5% probability level. In experiment one T4-Top soil and experiment
two T4- N: P: K -20:20:20 were used as control of the both experiments.
Results
According to experiment one, Boggy soil 3: sand 1(T2) growing medium was most suitable growing
medium among other used media for the E.parviflorus ‘Tropica’.In the experiment one, there was
significant difference (P< 0.05) among four treatments regarding increment of plant height, weight,
dry weight and root length. As indicated Table1, the maximum growth was observed in T2.
Description
Keywords
Animal Sciences, Aquatic Resources, Export Agriculture, Agriculture, Plant