Effects of Fertilization on Growth of Zinnia elegans L. Seedlings Grown in Floating System

  • Anastasia AKOUMIANAKI IOANNIDOU Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
  • Roxani Paraskevi SPENTZA Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
  • Ioannis ROUSSIS Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
  • Dimitrios BILALIS Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
Keywords: Floating system, organic fertilization, seedling production, Zinnia elegans

Abstract

The floating system is a promising alternative type of hydroponic seedling production system, which has not been much studied and disseminated in the flower industry. This study aimed to produce seedlings of Zinnia elegans in a floating system and to evaluate the influence of two organic (Codaphos & Codasting and Fish-Fert) and one inorganic nutrient solution formulations on the seedling growth parameters. Z. elegans seeds germinated at a high rate (76.6-82.1%) in all fertilization treatments with a T50 ranging from 9.54 to 10.50 days. Application of Codaphos and Codasting (organic fertilizer containing N- Codasting and P+K- Codaphos) in floating system resulted in better development of the aboveground parts and roots of seedlings comparing with the other organic and the inorganic fertilization. As a conclusion, the present study showed that organic fertilization, especially with Codaphos and Codasting, could successfully be used for the production of Z. elegans seedlings in a floating system; however, further studies must be carried out on this aspect.

Author Biographies

Anastasia AKOUMIANAKI IOANNIDOU, Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture
Roxani Paraskevi SPENTZA, Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture
Ioannis ROUSSIS, Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of Agronomy
Dimitrios BILALIS, Agricultural University of Athens, School of Agriculture, Engineering and Environmental Sciences, 75 Iera Odos Str., 118 55 Athens
Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of Agronomy
Published
2019-06-12