The importance of continuous feeding on the quality of perennial flower seedlings

Abstract

In this paper was examined the influence of organo-mineral fertilizer (OMF) on the quality of seedlings of perennial flower species: Gaillardia aristata Pursh (Arizona sun), Delfinium elatum L. (Magic Fountains Mix) and Lupinus polyphillus L. (Lupini Mix ApeX). The research was conducted during 2021 in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade. The paper examines the effect of application of commercial organo mineral fertilizer Fitofert humstart 4:12:5 in different doses: control (without application), 0.1%, 0.3%, 0.6% and 1.4% on the following developmental characteristics of selected plants: plant height (cm), above ground mass (g), number and mass of leaves (g), number of flower branches, number and size of flowers/inflorescences (cm). The results indicate that with the application of OMF were obtained well-developed plants seedlings. The best quality of Gaillardia aristata seedlings was achieved when OMF was applied in doses of 0.6 - 1.4%, Delfinium elatum in doses of 0.3% - 1% and Lupinus polyphillus in doses of 0.1 - 0.6%. Also, the obtained results indicate the need for further research, through the inclusion of a larger number of species in order to find the most optimal dose of application from the point of both the quality of produced plants and economic viability.