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Efficacy of Irrigation Methods with Varying Levels of Water in Gerbera (gerbera Jamesonii L.) Production

A. A. Mamun
Agrotechnology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

R. N. Remme
Agrotechnology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

M. M. Islam
Agrotechnology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

R. I. Xulian
Agrotechnology Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) requires frequent fresh irrigation water in order to minimize water stress and accomplish maximum production and high quality flower. Salinity is the major constraint for gerbera cultivation in the southern part of Bangladesh. Rainwater preservation and its judicial use could have been an active area of research for gerbera cultivation in saline stressed areas. Drip system is a progressive method to irrigate larger area with minimum loss of water. Thus, an experiment was conducted following RCBD to investigate the efficacy of drip irrigation with stored rainwater and to optimize the water level for gerbera with 400, 500 and 600 ml water day^-1 plant^-1. Application of 500 ml water day^-1 plant^-1 by flood irrigation system was considered as control. The highest number of leaves plant^-1 (56.20), leaf length (25.18 cm), leaf width (7.01 cm), number of flowers plant^-1(11.20) and flower diameter (5.25 cm) were recorded in plants irrigated by drip method with 500 ml water day^-1 plant^-1 but longest stalked flowers (23.58 cm) was produced by plants irrigated with same quantity of water (500 ml day^-1) by conventional (flood) method. No significant differences between drip and flood method with equal quantity of water was observed for number of leaves plant^-1, flower stalk length and flower diameter at 60 days after planting but significant variation was recorded for flowers plant^-1. Drip irrigation method may be more suitable for irrigating gerbera field and application of 500 ml water day^-1 plant^-1 in drip method may be optimum for maximum flowering.

Keywords: Gerbera jamesonii L., Drip irrigation, Plant growth, Flower production

Location: Godkhali under Jhikorgacha Upazila of Jashore district, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Gerbera, Water management

Objectives:

To investigate the efficacy of drip irrigation and to determine water requirement for proper growth and flowering of gerbera.

Methodology:

Plant materials: An investigation was carried out at ‘Gerbera Research Center’ of Agrotechnology Discipline in Khulna University (latitude 22°79′88″ E, longitude 89°53′44″ N and elevation: 18 m), Khulna, Bangladesh to find out the suitability of drip irrigation method on gerbera production and to determine the optimum amount of water for efficient flower production. Alabanda genotype of gerbera saplings were collected from Godkhali under Jhikorgacha Upazila of Jashore district and used as experimental material. Experimental design: The experiment was laid out under a plastic covered shade with lateral net screen according to Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) with five replications. Preparation of bed for planting Application of 500 ml water plant^-1 day^-1 by conventional (flood) method was considered as control. The soil of the experimental field was well-drained, rich, light, slightly alkaline (pH 7.5 to 8.0). The soil was made highly porous and well drained by ploughing 4 times followed by laddering and breaking the clods for growth and better penetration of roots of gerbera. All the weeds and stubbles were removed. The beds were prepared manually with spade. The experimental plots size were 8.4 m² (14 m × 0.6 m), plant spacing was 0.1m2 (0.4 m × 0.25 m) and the number of plants for each treatment plot were 84 (8.4÷0.1). Vermicompost and coconut coir dust (1:2) was applied and mixed well with the soil to make it porous and well drained, and were kept fallow for a week prior to planting gerbera plantlets. Intercultural operations: After one week of bed preparation, 30 days old gerbera saplings were planted in beds maintaining a distance of 40 cm between rows and of 25 cm between two plants within the row. At the time of planting, the crown of gerbera plants were kept 1.5-2.0 cm above soil level. Saplings were watered immediately after planting. Fertigation with Urea, TSP and MoP in the ratio of 10:15:20 g/m²/month was applied throughout the experimental period (Palanisamy et al., 2015). Necessary weeding was done time to time to reduce competition of weeds with crop plants, allelopathic effect of weeds and to increase the efficiency of irrigation water. Soil and growing media were loosened several times with hand harrow to increase aeration and to provide better condition for plant growth. Data collection: At ten days interval after three weeks of planting, data on leaves plant^-1, leaf length, leaf diameter, flowers plant^-1, flower stalk length and flower diameter were collected for four months. Statistical analysis: The collected data were analyzed according to the statistical procedure described by Gomez and Gomez (1984) by using the computer package program MSTAT-C. Differences among treatment means were separated by using Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT).

Source of Information: J Bangladesh Agril Univ 18(1): 6–11, 2020

Article Link (Online Journal): https://doi.org/10.5455/JBAU.94715

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

In the present investigation, different irrigation treatments were evaluated on growth and yield of gerbera. Plant growth and yield were influenced by irrigation treatments. In case of both leaf and floral characteristics studied, plants supplied with 500 ml irrigation water day^-1 by drip method produced maximum values except flower stalk length. A gerbera plant with longer and wider leaves producing maximum flowers with wide diameter and short stalk might be a good plant suitable for commercial flower cultivation. So, irrigation with 500 ml water plant^-1 day^-1 by drip method might be a suitable irrigation method for flower production in gerbera.

Knowledge Management: Journal