Effect of Composted Azolla in Different Growth Media on Growth and Nutrient Elements Compasition in Ficus benjamina Plant cv. Starlight

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of composted azolla on some growth and nutrient compositions of ornamental plants using Ficus benjamina cv. Starlight as a model plant. The trial was carried out as factorial experiment using randomized complete block design with three replications. Five levels of nutrition including: a1) Nutrient solution without composted azolla, a2-a5) without nutrient solution and with 0, 100, 250 and 400 g/pot composted azolla and four types of growing media including: tea wastage + tree bark, 1:4 v:v; tea wastage + leaf mold, 1:4 v:v; tea wastage + tree bark, 1:4 v:v; and tea wastage + leaf mold, 1:1 v:v were applied as treatments. Some important growth characteristics were measured over the 11-months of experimental period. At the end of this period, aerial parts of the plants were harvested to be analyzed for their nutrient elements composition. Results showed that the application of 100 g/pot composted azolla not only improved quality of the appearance of the plants, but also increased the macro nutrient elements accumulation in the aerial parts of plant as compared to the other treatments. It was concluded that azolla-contained growing media can be successfully substituted with some expensive conventional peat – based growing media.