The Effect of Potassium Biofertilizer and Chemical Fertilizer on Quantitative and Qualitative Traits of Periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus Cv.  Acillata )

The effect of potash biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer was studied on quantitative and qualitative traits of periwinkle in a factorial experiment based on a Randomized Complete Design with three replications, 48 experimental units, and two factors: (1) different methods of potash bio-fertilizer application at four levels of control (B0), seed inoculation (B1), root inoculation (B2) and seed inoculation × root inoculation (B3), and (2) different rates of potassium on fertigation at four levels of 0 (K0), 100 (K1), 200 (K2) and 300 mg L-1 (K3). It was found that the longest shelf life of 35.58 days was related to the treatment of root inoculation × 100 mg L-1 K. The highest number of auxiliary branches (3.66), number of leaves (42.88), plant fresh weight (17.69 g), number of flowers (4.46), and chlorophyll a (10.61 mg g-1 F.W.) were obtained from the treatment of seed inoculation × 300 mg L-1 K. The treatment of root inoculation × 200 mg L-1 K was the best treatment for plant potassium content (28.9 mg kg-1). The highest petal anthocyanin content amounted 178.04 mg 100 g-1 D.W. was observed in the treatment of ‘seed inoculation × root inoculation’ × 0 mg l-1 K. The best treatment of enhancing of qualitative and quantiative traits of periwinkle was seed inoculation × 300 mg L-1 K.