effect of different growth media on nutrients uptake, growth characteristics and yield of gerbera (gerbera jamesonii) in a soil less culture system

this experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of different substrate on growth and yield of gerbera flower. the experiment was performed using 10 treatments as fallow: fine sand, peat +fine sand (%25+%75), peat + fine sand ( %50 +%50), perlite + peat (%75 + %25), perlite + peat (%50 + %50), perlite + peat (%25 + %75), perlite + peat + expanded clay (%25 + %70 + %5), perlite + peat + expanded clay (%50 + %25 + %25), perlite + peat + expanded clay (25%+ %50 + %25), peat + expanded clay (%50 + %50), as a completely randomized design with 3 replications. all treatments irrigated with same nutrient solution. results showed that planting beds statistically significant differences in morphological characteristics, macro and micro nutrients in plant. results showed that the media containing perlite + peat + expanded clay (%25 + %70 + %5) is the best of all. in this treatment, flower number, flower disk diameter, shoot diameter, shoot neck diameter, flower height and vase life were 207 (m2/year), 12.4 cm, 0.8 cm, 0.58 cm, 54.5 cm and 11.6 days, respectively.in this treatment, concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were 4.17, 0.8 and 4.34 percent, respectively and micronutrients concentration as iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and boron on the plant leaves were 155.73, 194.83, 148.56, 44.92 and 51.5 mg kg-1 dry weight, respectively.