Effects of foliar application of FeSO4 and ZnSO4 on leaf tissue nutrients of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) varieties under protected condition

Abstract

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of foliar application of FeSO₄ and ZnSO₄ on leaf tissue nutrients of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus) varieties under protected condition during 2010-11. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Completely Randomized Design with three replications and 18 treatment combinations, comprising three varieties of gerbera, viz. Faro (V₁), Dana Allen (V₂), Roselin (V₃) and six levels of micronutrients, i.e. control (M₁), FeSO₄ @ 0.2% (M₂), FeSO₄ @ 0.3% (M₃), ZnSO₄ @ 0.2% (M₄), ZnSO₄ @ 0.3% (M₅) and FeSO₄ + ZnSO₄ @ 0.2% each (M₆). The present results have shown that the maximum increasing range of nutrients content in leaves as 45.00 to 69.71 ppm, 26.50 to 62.76 ppm, 2.60 to 4.83% and 3.36 to 5.45% of total Fe, Zn, N and K content in leaves, respectively was observed in variety V₂ (Dana Allen) from 1^st to 12^th month of gerbera, while the minimum range of nutrients 43.53 to 67.50 ppm, 25.17 to 61.17 ppm, 2.49 to 4.61% and 3.22 to 5.26% of total Fe, Zn, N and K content in leaves, respectively was noted in variety V₁; (Faro) from 1^st to 12^th month of gerbera. Similarly, variety V₂ (Dana Allen) gave lowest decrease range (0.94 to 0.50%) of total P content in leaves and variety V₁ (Faro) gave highest decreasing range (0.87 to 0.21%) of total P content in leaves from 1^st to 12^th month of gerbera plant. The treatment M6 (FeSO₄ + ZnSO₄ @ 0.2% each) was noted highest increasing range of nutrient content in leaves as 45.67 to 70.39 ppm, 27.00 to 62.78 ppm, 2.64 to 4.76% and 3.42 to 5.57% of Fe, Zn, N and K content in leaf during 1^st to 12^th month of gerbera plant.