The effect of nanocomposite containing zeolite Nanoparticles and some nutrients on the growth characteristics of African violets (Saintpaulia ionantha ‘Rhapsody Clementine’)

Document Type : Full Paper

Authors

1 Former M.Sc. Student, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, Arak 38156-8-8349, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, Arak 38156-8-8349, Iran

3 Associate Professor, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Arak University, Arak 38156-8-8349, Iran

Abstract

A factorial experiment in completely randomized design with three replications was conducted to investigate the effects of nanocomposite containing zeolite nanoparticles and some nutrients on the growth characteristics of African violets. This experiment was run in Agriculture and Natural Resources College, Arak University, in 2015. African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha) as a potted plant is sensitive to the method of irrigation. Water continuous contact to plant organs may be caused to rot the plant and appearance of white and yellow spots on leaves. The effect of Nanocomposite containing zeolite nanoparticles plus nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) in four levels 0, 1, 2 and 3 grams per pot) and three irrigation intervals (5, 10 and 15 days) on some morphological and physiological characteristics of African violet were investigated in this study. The results showed that nanocomposites in the highest level (three gram per pot) in addition to reducing the negative effects of deficit irrigation, increased the multiple absorption of phosphorus and potassium. Furthermore, increasing the morphological traits (length and width leaves, canopy, fresh weight and chlorophyll index) and decreasing of some physiological characteristics such as ion leakage, were observed, significantly.

Keywords


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