Feasibility Study of Replacing Cocopeat Substrate with Domestically Produced Substrates for the Cultivation of Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii)

Cocopeat: perlite mix is a common substrate in gerbera commercial production. With regard to the uncontrolled import of cocopeat from Southeast Asia, replacing this substrate with domestic production substrates could be an effective step to reduce dependence on imports of primary inputs for production. In this study, the effects of different types of substrates on the vegetative and reproductive stages of Gerbera were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with 8 treatments in 6 replications. Growth parameters including number of produced leaves, fresh and dry weight of shoot, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, fresh and dry weight of roots, leaf chlorosis percentage, leaf necrosis percentage, flower number, flower diameter, stalk height, number of days to flowering, middle diameter of stalk, end diameter of stalk and vase life were investigated. The results showed that plantlets grown in mushroom compost: perlite and then sandy substrate had the highest leaf number, shoot and root dry weight, indicating high potential for entering the reproductive phase. The lowest number of days to flowering and the highest number of flowers were obtained in these two culture media. Plants that were treated with sawdust: perlite and perlite did not show desirable vegetative and reproductive growth and due to high substrate EC in leaf mold: perlite, the percentage of leaf chlorosis and necrosis was significant.