EFFECT OF GROWING MEDIA PROPERTIES AND ITS CORRELATION STUDY IN GERBERA PRODUCTION

Abstract

Effect of growing media properties and its correlation study in gerbera production was carried out under protected condition with different growing media combinations viz. soil, sand, FYM, vermi compost, coco peat and rice husk. Significant relationships were observed between different growing media parameters with flower quality and yield parameters of gerbera. To evaluate the apparent strength of the relationship and to explain the variations on dependent variable (crop yield) multiple regression models were developed. In conclusion, it was found that the most important variables explaining the variations in the yield of gerbera were Water Holding Capacity (%) (initial), pH (initial), Available N (%) (initial), Available P (%) (initial), pH (end), Available N (%) (end) and Available P (%) (end