Effects of an Organic Substrate on Pelargonium peltatum and Improvement of its Morphological, Biochemical, and Flowering Parameters by Root-inoculated Phosphate Solubilizing Microorganisms.

One of the main problems with soil chemistry of phosphorus (P) fertilizers is its limited availability by plants. Residual P remains on the soil surface and may cause environmental problems. The use of materials such as peat moss is not cost-effective in some countries due to its scarcity and high price. This study was performed to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and limited expensive organic compounds in the cultivation beds to prevent environmental pollution and to investigate the effect of organic compounds from agricultural plant wastes and bio-fertilizers on characteristics of ivy geranium (Pelargonium peltatum). The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D) with 16 treatments and 4 repetitions. Cuttings were rooted and transferred to cultivation beds containing municipal solid waste compost, tea waste compost, leaf and wood compost, pond sediment and sand. Plant characteristics including morphological, biochemical, physiological and flowering parameters were evaluated at the end of the first flower shedding stage. Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms' bio-fertilizer improved plant vegetative and generative growth. The best results were obtained in plants cultivated in a mixture of sand, tea compost, cocopeat and pond sediment. It could be concluded that phosphate solubilizing microorganisms as a bio-fertilizer together with a mixture of sand, tea compost, cocopeat and pond sediment as a new cultivation bed may be applied for suitable growth and development of ivy geranium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]