Balanced fertilization as the most effective and the easiest way for improving the yield and quality of ornamental and cut flower in Iran

The business of cut flower and ornamental plants production is of major importance in the industrial world of today. In addition to psychological values, flower production is considered a major business which is unfortunately not taken so seriously here. The desirable of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and micronutrient in the leaves of gladiolas carnations, chrysanthemums, and roses are about 4.00, 0.45, 3.50 plus 4 per cent micronutrients respectively. In other word, the ratio N:P:K in ornamental and cut flowers is approximately 1.0:0.1:1.0 but unfortunately the fertilizers mainly used by the growers of ornamental and cut flowers consist of nitrogen and phosphates along with organic material applied without due attention to scientific placement. Application of K-fertilizers to ornamental and cut flowers far exceeds that of N-fertilizers in some countries (NK) but in Iran the importance of K-fertilizers has not been recognized. Obviously beside the balanced use of macronutrients, the use of medium nutrients such as sulfur, calcium and magnesium, and the micronutrients especially zinc and boron would play their role in improving the yield and quality of the ornamental and cut flowers in particular the vase life of cut flowers. Thus balanced fertilization is one of the most important factors in improving the yield and quality (vase life) of cut flowers after harvest. Various experiment show that, a short vase life, and short stem flowers bushes, and under developed flowers result from malnutrition especially boron and zinc deficiencies. With balanced fertilization, not only the flower yield improved but also the vase life increased, and the stems became longer with the use of K, S, Ca and micronutrients especially zinc (Zn) and boron (B). Similarly the results of experiments in the past five years show that with the application of potassium, sulfate, calcium and micronutrient fertilizers, the leaf concentration of nutrient elements increased significantly. A significant correlation was found between the rate of potassium application and improved quality characteristics such as the number of leaves and flowers per plant, the percentage of production barnacle, vase life, as well as the amount of ash produced in the dry matter. Similarly the results of field experiments with gladiolas show a significant difference between the control and the balanced use of fertilizers with the best treatments for improved quality consisting of potassium application which increased the number and the diameter of the florets significantly. Magnesium sulfate combined with animal manure and NPK increased the ration of bulk length to its diameter, this treatments combined with iron sulfate reduced the number of unopened, while Zn treatments increased the length of flower cluster and stems, B treatment increased the vase life and the total number of opened florets at one percent level of significant. The vase life of gladiolas cut in the evening specially when sprayed with a solution of calcium chloride was significantly longer than those cut in the morning. There for, the promotion of balanced fertilization with the primary emphasis on the application of potassium, zinc, boron, and calcium as well as the use of fertigation systems and the sulfur compounds must get our utmost attention with regard to the nutritional program of ornamental and cut flowers