Gjorgji MARTINOVSKI¹, Stefanka HADŽI-PECOVA¹, Danail JANKULOVSKI¹, Gordana POPSIMONOVA², Snežana DAVČEVA<sup>3

1</sup>Faculry of Agiculture, Department of Vegetable And Flower Crops, A. Makedonski BB, 1000 Skopje, R.Macedonia (contact e-mail: stefanka@zf.ukim.edu.mk)
²Institute of Agriculture, Department of Vegetable Crops, A. Makedonski BB, 1000 Skopje, R.Macedonia
³High School "B.Miladinovci", 1000 Skopje, R. Macedonia

Introduction

The seedling production is one of the most important phases in the plant development of the vegetable and flower cultures, witch determinates the intensity of the future plant development and also, some components of the yield are formed. Therefore, for those cultures that are raised from seedlings, the quality of the seedlings is a very important part in the production process. Besides the conventional production of seedlings, there are other techniques (methods) of container production: paper pot systems, culto systems, speeding systems and others, exanimate in R.M.

The purpose of this research is to establish the influence of container - floating tray systems for seedling production using different substrate mixtures, on some important parameters of young plants (seedlings) from some Brassica species and flower cultures.

Material and methods

The experiment has been organized in three replications in randomized block system. Cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower were sown in two different substrate mixtures: local peat moss mixed with perlite in ratio 1:1 alternative A, brown peat mixed with perlite in the same volume ratio - alternative B, and alternative C (conventional production). The expended polystyrene trays were with 209 alveoli each. The nutrient solution was prepared diluting soluble fertilizer 20:10:20 with microelements (80 g in 100 l of water). The conductivity was constantly maintained on 1.5 mS/cm. The bays were constructed according the size of the trays, i.e. 103 cm x 275 cm with approximately 300 l of nutrient solution. Both substrate mixtures in the Floating Tray system were compared with the same crops sown in traditional seedbeds. The following seedling parameters were being used as indicators for the results obtained: root length, root mass, leaf mass, leaf surface, number of leafs per plant. These measurements were made on 30 seedlings from each treatment and statistically processed.

Results and discussion

The obtained results from the research of seedlings bred on open, for late production of the Brassica species, are shown in tables, compared with the control - the conventional production. The analyzed parameters in the both substrate mixtures comparing the dimension of the plants, steam thickness, root length are with minor differences (tab.1). But, when comparing the mass values, root mass, plant mass and leaf mass (in cm²) there are some minor positive differences for alternative B, but not significant. The uniformity of the seedlings is important for production and economical effect. According the coefficient of variation, the seedlings bred from brown peat, is more uniformed compared with alternative A (Katazyna et all., 1996). The seedlings produced in Floating Tray system compared with the control, showed considerable positive values, regarding all researched parameters.

The seedlings produced in the conventional way distinct with smaller growth in all components and with high CV. The obtained results for the seedlings of cauliflower and broccoli (tab. 2 and 3) produced in floating tray system are similar with the results from cabbage production. Comparison of results from the two different medias (plant mass, root mass and leaf area) showed relatively higher values on the perimeters for the seedlings produced in the brown peat which ilustrates better plant condition. The seedlings produced in flouting tray system has noticeably better growth - with higher values on all researched variations, as well as higher uniformity or lower CV value, compared with the control.

The production of seedlings from flower cultures in containers - flouting tray system was done as a trial for evaluation of the effects of this technique. A small amount of seed from a few species was used. Only for Petunia hybrida and Ageratum mexicanum comparison on the dynamics and quality of the seedlings produced in containers - flouting tray system was made. The sowing of the Petunia and Ageratum seed was in the first days of March 2003 year in a plastic house. Mixture of peat and perlite was used as media. The experiments showed the following: earlier seed germination (Petunia seeds germinated in 6 days); faster plant development; twice as much developed root system; shorter time for transplanting, faster adjustment and higher standards of the transplanted plants and shorter flowering period of the plant produced in containers - flouting tray system. The obtained results from these researches can be related to other similar researches. Damjanovik et all (1994), Markovik (1996), had concluded that when producing seedlings in containers, the type and quality of the medium has direct influence upon tomato plant condition. According to Reljin et all (1990) the seedlings container production is connected with high starting investments, but the plant quality and the plants price is justifying the investments. The method of flouting tray system showed less nursing treatments, chipper production, and higher seedling quality.

Table 1. Cabbage seedlings (Brassica oleraceae var.capitata)

Conclusion

The reserched production of seedlings in conteiners - flouting tray system leads to a general conclusion of high quality in all parameters and uniformity. The researched also showed that the quality depends of the media type.. The seedlings are characterized with better developed root and leaf mass; the plants are vigorous, essential for intensive growth and development after transplanting on a constant place.

References

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2. Jovanka Katazyna Petrevska, Gordana Popsimonova (1996). The influence of the type of supstrat on growth and development of tomato transplants.

3. Ersava, VL (1980). Promislenite tehnologii vozdelivania ovoshchnih kultur, Kisinev, Kortia moldevenjske, 156-173.

4. Marnovik, V., Takac, A., Vogajanac, L., (1992). Containers transplants production, Contemporary agriculture.Vol 40,No 1-2,11-14.

5. Martinovski Gj, popsimonova Gordana (1995), Inertnite supstrati kako uslov za intenzivno gradinarstvo, zbornik na trudovi "Fakultet-stopanstvo 95", Zemjodelski fakultet - Skopje, Volume 3, 63-66.

6. Stevan Reljin, Nevian Lango (1990), Trzni aspekti kontenierske proizvodnje sadnica povrca. Intenzivno gaenje povrca, Zbornik radova 293-296, Ohrid.