Response of Zinnia (Zinnia elegans), French Marigold (Tagetes patula) and Petunia (Petunia hybrida) to Planting Dates and Fertilizer Types

Abstract

Three field experiments were conducted at the Demonstration Farm of the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Khartoum, Sudan, during Winter season (2000-2001) to study the response of Zinnia (Zinnia elegans), French Marigold (Tagetes patula) and Petunia (Petunia hybrida) to planting dates and fertilizer types. Each species was grown in a separate experiment. The planting date treatments were, October, 22, November, 22, and December, 22. The fertilizer type treatments were, Chicken manure at the rate of 2.5 tons/ fed, Urea at the rate of 186.7 kg/ fed, Bayfolan (10-8-6) at the rate of 3 ml/liter and the control. The studied parameters included, number of flowers/ plant, number of branches/ plant, plant height and flower diameter. The collected data were statistically analyzed and the means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The results showed that the three species under study had responded to planting dates and fertilizer types. The response to planting dates varied with the species. Zinnia, can be grown successfully through out winter season of Shambat. However, planting on November 22, gave significantly higher values of growth parameters. Early sowing of French Marigold resulted in vigorous vegetative growth and higher flower yield than late sowing of November, 22 and December, 22. The favourable planting date for Petunia under conditions of the study was November, 22. ٤٠ Significantly higher values of number of flowers per plant, number of branches/plant, plant height and flower diameter were associated with the fertilized plants compared to the control. Application of chicken manure at the rate of 2.5 tons/fed was found to be superior to urea and Bayfolan (10-8-6) and gave higher values in the studied growth parameters. Urea and Bayfolan (10-8-6) gave significantly higher growth values compared to the control.