EFFECT OF NPK FERTILIZER AND GROWING MEDIA ON THE GROWTH AND GEL PRODUCTION OF TWO SPECIES OF ALOE PLANT (ALOE VERA AND ALOE BUTTENERI)

Abstract

This study was consummated during the period 1st Sep 2021 to 1st Jul 2022, in the Field of Horticulture Department/Agriculture Engineering Science College/ Duhok University/ Kurdistan region Iraq, aiming to study the effect of three levels of NPK fertilizer (urea, triphosphate, potassium sulfate) control (0,0,0), low (100,75,50), high (200,150,100) mgl-1 and five media (clay soil, loamy soil, clay soil+ loamy soil, peat moss + clay soil + loamy soil, peat moss + clay soil + loamy soil + compost) by volume, on the growth and Gel production of two species of Aloe (Aloe vera, Aloe butteneri) plant. The results can be summarized as follow. Increased NPK to high (200,150,100) mgl-1 increased significantly leaf size, Gel fresh weight, plant growth index, and leaf area for the two species. Also, the fourth media (peat moss + clay soil + loamy soil) and fifth media (peat moss + clay soil + loamy soil + local compost) were the best media for the most of studied parameters, whereas the third media (clay soil + loamy soil) was the least effect on most of the studied parameter. Aloe vera species a significantly superior to the Aloe butteneri species in all studied parameters.