Effect of Organic and Inorganic Fertilization on Field-Grown Stock (Matthiola incana (L.) R. Br.)

Abstract

The Argentine cut flower market is poorly diversified and dominated by species such as chrysanthemum, followed by roses and carnations. Stock (Matthiola incana (L.) R. Br.) represents an alternative to increase market supply. Plant nutrition is fundamental to obtaining commercial-quality stems for bouquets and floral arrangements. Conventional fertilization in cut flower crops relies on chemical fertilizers; however, improper management can lead to soil structure loss and salinization. The use of chicken or poultry litter as an amendment is common in horticulture and its application could be extended to floriculture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizer application on the commercial quality of field-grown stock for cut flowers. Treatments consisted of composted chicken litter, chemical fertilizer, and an untreated control. To determine the commercial quality of the floral stems, the following measurements were taken: plant height, peduncle length, inflorescence axis length, total number of open flowers and flower buds per inflorescence, number of leaves, leaf area, stem diameter at the crown, and root system dry weight. A completely randomized statistical design with three replications was used. For the composted chicken litter treatment (TCA), the mean plant height (56.67 cm) and mean inflorescence peduncle length (6.16 cm) showed significant differences compared to the control treatment (TTA) and the chemical fertilization treatment (TFA). Results for stem diameter at the crown, total number of open flowers and buds, and inflorescence axis length showed significant differences between TTA and TCA, while TFA presented intermediate values. Root system dry weight showed significant differences between TCA and the other treatments, with TCA mean values being 70.5% higher than the TTA treatment. It is concluded that the use of composted chicken litter as an organic amendment promotes the growth and development of field-grown stock plants, enabling the production of high-commercial-quality floral stems.