The Effect of Growth Bed Containing Organic Substrates and Irrigation Period on the Growth of Araucaria excelsa L.

Araucaria excelsa L. of Araucariaceae family is a beautiful conifer which has a high economic importance in the flower industry. A factorial experiment based on randomized completely block design with two factors: 1. Irrigation intervals in 2, 4 and 6 days (I1, I2 and I3) and 2. The growth bed in pots 3 L included M1 (100 % v/v cocopeat), M2 (100% municipal waste compost), M3 (100 % vermicompost), M4 (25 % cocopeat + 25 % perlite + 25 % soil + 25 % municipal waste compost), M5 (25 % cocopeat + 25 % vermicompost + 25 % soil + 25 % perlite) and M6 (25 % vermicompost +25 % municipal waste compost + 25 % perlite + 25 % soil) was conducted with 18 treatments in three replications. Traits that were measured in this experiment included height of the crown, number of lateral shoot, branches distance, number of branches, length of lateral shoot, fresh weight of root and shoot, total fresh weight, dry weight of root and shoot, total dry weight. The results showed that the growth indices increased in 100 % vermicompost. The treatment I1M3 was the best treatment in the growth of plant. The 100 % vermicompost bed had a better response to 6 days irrigation than in the other beds, but it was observed a considerable difference in the growth indices between 6 days and 2 days periods of irrigation.