Response of Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus Coronette F1) To Compost Amendment and Foliar Fertilization

Abstract

Two experiments were conducted at the ornamental plants nursery of the Department of Horticulture -  Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum at Shambat to study the response of snapdragon plants to compost amendments and foliar fertilization. In the first experiment, a compost was mixed with field soil to form four treatments namely 0:1(control), 1:3, 1:1, 3:1 (compost:field soil).Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized design. Results showed that the three ratios of compost had a positive effect on vegetative growth and flowering parameters which were plant height, stem diameter, number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, days to first flower bud, number of inflorescences per plant, inflorescence length and inflorescence weight. There were significant differences among treatments. All treatments resulted in significantly higher values and earlier flowering than the control.  In the second experiment, four doses of the foliar fertilizer Wuxal representing four treatments namely 0 ml/L (control), 2 ml/L, 4 ml/L and 6 mls fertilizer/liter of water. Results demonstrated that growth parameters (plant height, number of branches/plant, number of leaves/plant and stem diameter) were highest at the dose of 4 ml/L. Increasing the dose of the foliar fertilizer from 4 mls /L to 6 mls/L did not result in significant increase in growth parameters. With regard to flowering, earlier flower bud emergence was at 4 mls/L and 6 mls/L. With respect to number of inflorescences/plant, inflorescence length and inflorescence weight, all treatments were significantly superior to control. The study recommends the use of   the mixture (compost: field soil) at the ratio 1 : 3 and the foliar fertilizer Wuxal at 4 ml/L for Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus Coronette F1) production.