Effect of pot size on plant growth and multiplication of water lilies (Nymphaea sp.).

摘要

Growth performance and multiplication of two promising water-lily varieties (Nymphaea sp.) namely, N. rosea and N. sunrise were studied at the Urban Demonstration Garden Site (UDG) of Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), using different types of pots. Three replicates of each variety were tested using pots of three different sizes i.e., 29 h x 30 w x 29 d cm (circular), 50 h x 45 w x 22 d cm (rectangular) and 22 h x 22 w x 13 d cm (baskets) in split plot design. The water lilies were planted in containers filled with a growing medium of sand:sphagnum peat moss in 2:1 (v/v) and then placed in tanks filled with fresh water. Growth rate was measured on a monthly basis through the petiole length, leaf width, number of leaves and number of flowers. At the end of the study, observations on the number of the offshoots, buds and seedlings produced from each plant were recorded to study the effect of pot size on water-plant growth. Among the three different sized pots studied, rectangular pots of size 50 h x 45 w x 22 d cm were found to be the best for the growth and multiplication of N. rosea and N. sunrise. This could be due to the increased plant-leaf area, shoot biomass and root biomass in rectangular pots compared to circular pots and baskets.