| dc.description.abstract | The study was conducted to investigate the influence of nitrogen
fertilization and size of mother bulbs on growth and flowering of
Giant chincherinchee (Ornithogalum saundersiae). It was also
carried out to assess the carryover effect of nitrogen from one
season to the other by mother bulbs to daughter bulbs. It was
carried out at the University farm in Kabete (Altitude 1940m)
between February 1993 and April 1994.
The experiment was a 3 x 4 factorial randomized complete block
design. The treatment factors comprised of three bulb sizes, small
(3.0-4.0 em) medium (5.0-6.0 em) large (7.0-8.0 em) and four
nitrogen levels (0, 90, 180 and 270 kg N/ha). The treatment
combinations were in three replications.
Nitrogen application did not have a significant effect on days to
50% flowering, total shoot production, floral shoot production,
percent flowering, flower stalk length, flower stalk diameter and
the number of daughter bulbs produced. Increasing nitrogen (N)
application increased foliar and daughter bulb N content. There was
a significant N carryover effect from mother bulbs to daughter
bulbs but the nitrogen that was carried over had no correlation
with subsequent growth parameters measured.
(ix)
Bulb size significantly affected growth and flowering of giant
chincherinchee. Small bulbs produced fewer shoots and floral stalks
while larger bulbs produced more shoots and floral stalks. Flower
stalks produced by large bulbs were of satisfactory market quality
in terms of length and diameter.
It was concluded that large bulbs measuring 6-8 cm in diameter
should be recommended for use by growers to establish a cut flower
crop of Giant chincherinchee. A differrent crop can be grown using
small bulbs for production of daughter bulb propagules which will
be large in size. The "seed" crop can be grown with some nitrogen
as it will be carried over to the next season. | en |
