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International Conference on

Recent Trends in Environmental Sustainability

ESCON22/SAgri/37

Impact of different organic soilless substrate on vegetative and reproductive growth of
Petunia x hybrid cv. “Blush pink”
Muhammad Talha1, Ahsan Akram*1, Adnan Younis1, Afzal Saeed1 & Sana Tahir1

1Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad
Correspondence: ahsan.akram@uaf.edu.pk

Abstract
Petunia is important bedding and potted ornamental flower because of its diverse colors and
varieties. Soilless growing media has a significant effect on growth and production of flowering
plants because of different organic matters present in it. This experiment was conducted to
evaluate the effect of different soilless substrate on vegetative and reproductive growth of
petunia. Four different compositions of soilless substrates were used having T1: Coco coir 30%
+ Leaf manure 50% + Pressmud 20%, T2: Saw dust 30% + Peat moss 40% + Pressmud 30%,
T3: Coco coir 60% + Peat moss 30% + Leaf manure 10% and T4: Pressmud 60% + Coco coir
20% + Peat moss 20%. Silt was used as a control. Highest number of flowers, canopy diameter,
number of leaves and lateral branches and fresh and dry weights were recorded in T4 having
Pressmud 60% + Coco coir 20% + Peat moss 20%. Diameter of flowers was recorded highest
in T1 having Coco coir 30% + Leaf manure 50% + Pressmud 20%. Highest leaf area of plants
was recorded in T2 having Saw dust 30% + Peat moss 40% + Pressmud 30%. T4 was found
superior having better vegetative and reproductive growth.
Keywords: Vegetative growth, Reproductive growth, Organic soilless substrate, Pressmud,
Peat moss, Coco coir, Leaf manure, Saw dust.

Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus

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