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Optimizing Organic Fertilization for Marguerite Daisy (Argyranthemum frutescens): Impact of Application Rate and Frequency on Growth and Yield
Date Issued
January 1, 2024
Type
Article
Abstract
Edible flowers are a new market for horticulture plants. Beyond their attractive shapes and colors, this group of plants contains secondary metabolites that benefit human health. This study aims to investigate the growth and flower yield of marguerite daisies using organic fertilizer at different rates and frequencies. The experiment was designed as a factorial, completely randomized design with two factors: fertilizer rate (0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 times compared to the total nitrogen content in chemical fertilizer) and frequency of organic fertilizer application (every 30 and 15 days). Slow-release chemical fertilizer (Osmocote 13-13-13) was used as a control. The experiment reveals that the rate of organic fertilizer application significantly affected the growth and flower yield of marguerite daisy. Still, the frequency of organic fertilizer application did not significantly affect it. Application at 1.5 times yielded the most significant growth and flower production compared to 0.5 and 1 times of application. When comparing the results of organic fertilizer application with 13-13-13 chemical fertilizer, it was found that applying organic fertilizer 1.0 times and 1.5 times every 15 or 30 days resulted in similar plant growth and flower size as with the chemical fertilizer (p>0.05). However, chemical fertilizer produced the highest chlorophyll index (SPAD), accumulated flower buds, and flower blooming per pot (p<0.05). The plant requires more than 1.5 times the organic fertilizer application to achieve flower production equivalent to chemical fertilizer.
Citation
Asean Journal of Scientific and Technological Reports, 27(5), 2024