Irrigation scheduling and its impacts on Freesia-water productivity, vegetative and flowering parameters under greenhouse cultivation

A pot experiment under greenhouse was conducted during 2017/18 and 2018/19 at Sakha Horticulture Research Station, North Nile Delta to find the impact of different irrigation scheduling on freesia-water productivity, its yield, vegetative, flowering, corms parameters and chlorophyll content. Therefore, four irrigation intervals of 3, 6, 9 and 12 days with four irrigation levels of 100 (Control), 120, 80, and 60% cumulated pan evaporation (CPE) were tested. Results showed that irrigation scheduling significantly influenced the stated items. The mean seasonal irrigation water for the highest economical yield of fresh weight of spike was 12.58 cm, while it was 14.05 cm for new corm under 9 days and 60% or 12 days and 80%, respectively with mean value of 13.32cm. Regarding irrigation water productivity (IWP), the stated irrigation scheduling gave the highest IWP for spike (0.7g.cm-1) and new corm of 0.43 g.cm-1. For freesia marketable yield of fresh weight of spike and new corm, maximum spike weight was obtained from 9 days and 60% and for fresh weight of new corm was obtained from 12 days and 80% CPE. By applying 12 days and 120% level, the highest values of plant height, number of leaves per plant and weight of fresh and dry vegetative growth were recorded. Whereas, 3 days and 120% level gave the highest leaf area. Moreover, watering each 9 days and 80% CPE is the effective irrigation scheduling on flowering parameters. Meanwhile, 12 days and 60% is the proper irrigation scheduling for highest total chlorophyll content.