Response of Areea lutescens, Caryota mitis and Chamaedorea elegans palms to nutritional and irrigation treatments

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of chemical fertilization on growth and chemical composition of Areca lulescens Bony, the effect of some biofertilizers on Chamaedorea and Caryota palm seedlings as well as, the effect of irrigation intervals on Areca, Caryota and Chamaedorea seedlings. The results indicated that all micronutrient treatments significantly increased growth parameters and chemical composition of Areca lulescens, seedlings. The treatments of Ca, Mg, Fe and Zn significantly increased plant height. stem diameter, leaf area and number of leaves. The formation of roots was significantly increased with the treatment of Mg, whereas, the treatments of Mn, Mg and Fe encouraged the formation of leaves. Mg as well as Mn treatments significantly increased F.W and D.W of leaves. Mn and Fe treatments showed the best effect on root growth. Mn, Fe and Mg resulted in the highest value of pigments contents. The highest carbohydrates content obtained with Fe, Ca or Mg treatments. All micronutrient treatments increased N, P contents leaves. The treatments of Mg. Fe and Mn increased the contents of Mg and Mn in the leaves. Biofertilizers greatly improved the vegetative growth of Charnaeclorea elegans seedlings, as the application of hemogreen (algae) gave the tallest plants and increased leaves formation as well as stem diameter, followed by nitrobactrene and mycorrhiza. The treatments of phosphorene and mycorrhiza increased growth of roots. All biofertilizers treatments increased the content of chlorophyll in leaves. Mycon_hiza and hemogreen treatments gave the highest contents of carbohydrates, N, P and K in leaves. Treating Caryola milis seedlings with mycorrhiza and hemogreen increased plant height, stein diameter as well as leaves formation. The treatments of phosphorene, nitrobactrene and mycorrhiza were the best for number and weight of leaves as well as the content of chlorophylls, K and carbohydrates in leaves. The results indicate that prolonging the period between irrigation from 4 to 8 days increased height of Areca, Caryota and Chamaedorea seedlings. Irrigating seedlings of three palm species palm every 4 days significantly increased the stem diameter as well as fresh and dry weights of seedlings. Subjecting Chamaedorea seedlings to irrigation stress (8 days interval) reduced the number of leaves, but increased area and weight of leaves, as well as root growth. The seedlings of Areca significantly produced the largest and heaviest fresh leaves as well as best root growth with the shortest irrigation interval. Irrigation seedlings of Caryota every 4 days increased vegetative growth, and the contents of chlorophylls, N, carbohydrates.