Effects of biofertilizer, paclobutrazol and pinching on some morphophysiological characteristicts of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum frutescence)

Biofertilizers are important sources for plant's supplementing nutrition program, which have significant effect on reduction of costs and adverse effects of mineral fertilizers on the environment. This research was conducted as two different experiments. In experiment 1, effect of biofertilizer (0, 1 and 1.5 L nitroxin/ 500 m2), paclobutrazol (0, 25 and 50 mg/L) with/without pinching, and in experiment 2, effect of biofertilizer (0, 1 and 1.5 L nitroxin per 500 m2) and nitrogen fertilizer (0, 200 and 300 mg/L urea) were studied on some morphophysiological characteristics of Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum frutescence). Both experiments were arranged as factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications. In experiment 1, maximum stem height (38.14 cm) was recorded in 1.5 L nitroxin without paclobutrazol and pinching. The 1.5 L nitroxin + 25 mg/L paclobutrazol treatment showed the highest values of number of flowers, fresh and dry weight of shoots, fresh and dry weight of flower and number of shoots. Also, the highest amount of chlorophyll a and b, carotenoides, total soluble carbohydrates and protein content was obtained in this treatment. Plant height, number of flowers and number of shoots were reduced significantly with increasing paclobutrazol concentration from 25 to 50 mg/L. Application of paclobutrazol significantly decreased plant height and increased plant width as compared to pinching. In experiment 2, better growth rate, flowering and physiological characteristics were obtained by application of biofertilizer and urea together, as compared to using them alone. The highest number of shoots and flower per plant, highest values of chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, total soluble carbohydrate and protein content were obtained in 1.5 L nitroxin /500 m2 + 200 mg/L urea treatment. Number of flowers was significantly increased by extension of plant width. According to the results of the second experiment, nitroxin biofertilizer could reduce application of mineral nitrogen consumption in Chrysanthemum frutescence