EFFECT OF METHOD PF PLANTING, BULB WEIGHT AND CHEMICAL FERTILIZATION ON SOME GROWTH TRAITS OF Narcissus tazetta

Abstract

The experiment was carried out on fall / 2002 , the effect of two levels of bulb weight (22 & 27 gm) ; two methods of planting (under plastic or opened) were tested. Four levels of N.P.K (control ; 0.03 : 0.04 : 0.04 ; 0.11 : 0.12 : 0.13 or 0.23 : 0.25 : 0.27 gm / pot) were added , each rate was divided into three equal doses , the first was added two weeks after planting ; the second was added when the flower bud was visible and the third after flower development. All the treatments were stored at room temperature (27 – 34oc) for 40 days then planted at 10oc until most of the bulbs started rooting , then transferred to 18oc and finally to the room temperature (24 - 28oc) for hardening . A split – split experiment with RCBD with three replicates was designed . All plants grown from bulb weight "(27 gm) were bloomed , but time of flowering was delayed (15.08 days) and the percentage of dry matter was decreased (25.79%) . Planting under plastic condition enhanced the flowering rate (122.5 days) ; length of leaves (24.62 cm) ; also %N , %P and %K were elevated (2.22 , 0.28 , 0.95%) respectively . The lowest level of N.P.K gave the highest number of florets / inflorescence (3.63) . Bulbs contents of N,P and K were increased (2.28 , 0.32 , 0.95%, respectively) .