Effect of different sources and levels of potassium and acidified water on quality and quantity of carnation flower.

According to official reports, Iran has about 1 percentage of greenhouses of flower and production areas in the world. If these capabilities are realized, this section of agriculture can import about 200 millions dollars to our country. Our product has low numbers of flowers per m2 and the quality of flower such as vase life is less. It has been shown that the most influential factors on the quality and quantity of flowers are nutrition and quality of irrigation water. In this study, the effect of acidified water and levels and sources of potassium fertilizer on quality and yield of carnation were studied. This study was carried out in two parts. In the first part, the two treatments included: 1) fertilization by green Kristalon + ordinary water, 2)fertilization by green Kristanlon + water with pH = 6. The second part consisted of 12 treatments including: 1) NP; 2) NP + micronutrients; 3) T2+ 100% MOP; 4) T2 + 100% SOP; 5) T2 + 150% MOP; 6) T2 + 150% SOP; 7) T2 + 200% MOP; 8)T2 + 200% SOP; 9) T2 + 200% (50% MOP + 50% SOP); 10)T9 + Mg; 11) T10 + foliar application of micronutrients; 12) T11 + foliar application of CaC12. Based on these experiments, it was shown that acidified water increased significantly (P=0.05) calyx diameter of the flower and chlorophyll content of the leaf. Stem length, stem diameter and vase life significantly (P=0.01) increased by 8, 13, 33percent in acidified water. The acidified water significantly (P=0.05) decreased calyx splitting of flowers. In the second part the number of flowers per plant was affected by all the aforementioned treatments and all the potassium fertilizer treatments significantly increased the numbers of flower per plant; yet, the treatments of number 11 and 12 were better than other treatments. The stem length, stem diameter, calyx diameter, flower diameter and vase life, in all treatments compared with the control treatment significantly increased the quality and in qualitive factor the role of 150% fertilization by potassium was more significant than others and there was no difference between the two kinds of potassium fertilizer and levels of 150% and 200% fertilization. The concentration of potassium in leaves using potassium was significantly increased in treatments 5 and 6; yet, there wasn’t any difference between the two levels of 150% and 200%. Concentration of calcium and magnesium of leaves in the potassium treatment significantly decreased, and the maximum decrease of calcium and magnesium in leaves was observed in treatments number 7 and 8.