ISHS Acta Horticulturae 766: XXVII International Horticultural Congress - IHC2006: International Symposium on Ornamentals, Now!
EFFECT OF IRRIGATION AND MULCH ON THE INCIDENCE OF ERWINIA SOFT ROT, FLOWER AND TUBER PRODUCTION OF ZANTEDESCHIA 'BLACK MAGIC' AND 'FLOREX GOLD' |
| Authors: | K. Ngamau, E.N. Mugai, B.N. Ng'ayu |
| Keywords: | calla lily, media, saw dust, wood shavings, diseases |
| Abstract:
This study investigated the effects of irrigation and mulch on the disease incidence of Erwinia soft rot on flower and tuber quality of two Zantedeschia cultivars, 'Black Magic' and 'Florex Gold'. Treatments included: plants irrigated with drip or overhead at 2, 4 or 6 mm; sawdust or wood-shavings used as mulch and a control without mulch. Results showed that Z. 'Black Magic' was most affected by treatments and had greater losses due to Erwinia soft rot. Overhead irrigation increased disease incidence and severity. There was no significant effect on disease incidence between the mulches. The mode of irrigation and levels had no significant effect on flower number, flower or spathe length. Sawdust and wood-shaving mulch treatments resulted in reduced flower number, flower length, stem thickness, spathe length, spathe width, tuber number, tuber diameter and weight. Irrigation at 4 mm gave the thickest stems and widest spathes. Drip irrigation led to a higher number of tubers harvested, increased tuber diameter and weight. The lowest number of tubers harvested was at an irrigation level of 6 mm due to increased disease incidence, while at the 4 mm irrigation level there was increased tuber diameter and weight. | |
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