Effect of Different Growing Media on the Growth and Development of Zinnia (Zinnia elegans) under the Agro-Climatic Condition of Jiroft

Abstract

Zinnia elegans, an annual flowering plant of the genus Zinnia, is one of the best known zinnias. Present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different growing media on the growth and flowering of Zinnia elegans. Seven different growth media including coconut compost, silt, soil loam, leaf manure, (leaf manure+silt; 2:1), (coconut compost+soil loam; 1:1) and (leaf manure+soil loam+silt; 1:1:1) were used for growing Zinnia. The experiment was laid out in Complete Randomized Design (CRD) giving equal importance to treatments. Number of flowers, length of lateral branches, number of lateral branches, stem diameter, plant height (cm), diameter of flower, vase life (day) and fresh and dry root, shoot and total were determined. The present study confirms the fact that selection of the appropriate medium of growth for potted flowering plants in this case Zinnia elegans was very important from aesthetic and marketing point of view. The medium must ensure the production of plants of the required quality on cost effective basis. In the present study, leaf manure produced significantly the maximum vase life and diameter of flower while the maximum vase life and diameter of flower was obtained with mix (coconut compost+soil loam; 1:1).