Effect of Growing Media and Mineral Fertilization on Growth, Flowering, Bulbs Productivity and Chemical Constituents of Hippeastrum vittatum, Herb

The present study was designed to study the effect of different growing media (clay, composted leaves and sand + composted leaves (1: 1 v/v) and fertilizer rates of mineral NPK (19: 19: 19) at 0.0, 2.5, 5 g / plant and their combined effect on the vegetative growth, flowering qualities, bulbs production and chemical constituents of leaves of Amaryllis (Hippeastrum vittatum, Herb.) plants during 2006/07 and 2007/08 growing seasons at the nursery of Alexandria Univ., Egypt. The results indicated that using the different growing media had significant effect on the most of the most vegetative growth characteristics, flowering parameters, bulbs productivity and leaf chemical composition parameters (total chlorophylls content, N, P and K contents) in both seasons. The fertilization rates had significant effect on growth, flowering and bulbs production. On the other hand, the highest level of complete fertilizer (5 g / plant) was the best treatment for growth analysis, bulb fresh and dry weight and chemical constituents of leaves. Applying the complete fertilizer of N,P,and K (19: 19: 19) at 5 g / plant grown in composted leaves medium or its mixture with sand (1: 1 v/v) gave the maximum beneficial effect on the vegetative growth characteristics, flowering and bulbs and bulblets production. The highest significant increasing the total chlorophylls content, N, P and K contents in leaves and total carbohydrates content in bulbs were obtained by using the highest rate of complete fertilizer (5g) with the growing medium of sand + composted leaves (1: 1 v/v) in both seasons. It can be recommended that to produce high quality of Hippeastrum vittatum, plants for different decorative purposes in landscaping by cultivated them in the mixture of composted leaves medium or its mixture with sand (1: 1 v/v) and applying 5g/plant complete fertilizer NPK (19:19:19) monthly during the growing season.