THE EFFECT OF GROWING MEDIA AND HUMIC ACID TREATMENTS ON SOME PLANT PROPERTIES OF PURSLANE (Portulaca oleracea L.)

Abstract

Growing medium in soilless culture is important due to its effects on plant nutrition. In this study, the effects of growing environment and humic acid on yield and quality in purslane cultivation were investigated. The study was carried out in laboratories of Ordu University, Department of Horticulture and under greenhouses conditions (Merzifon provinces). Peat, perlite medium, 2:1 peat/perlite, 1:1 peat/perlite and 1:2 peat/perlite mixtures were used as growing medium in plastic sowing pot. Seeds were sown on the 6th of April. Throughout the study, all cultural processes were carried out to ensure that the crops reached marketable harvest size and plants were harvested on 24 May. The yield, shoot height, shoot diameter, oxalic acid and nitrate contents were determined for the harvested plants. Plant yields varied between 1957-3113 g per square meters depending on the growing medium. Parallel to the humic acid application dose, plant yield increased by 6.21-12.08%. Similarly, the shoot height, shoot diameter and leaf oxalic acid contents increased with humic acid applications. Leaf nitrate contents were determined with 1512 mg/100 g in the lowest 1:1 peat/perlite medium. The highest nitrate value was determined as 2343 mg/100 g nitrate content in 100% perlite medium.