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Research on Crops

Impact of growing media on the growth, productivity and quality of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) cultivars



DOI: 10.31830/2348-7542.2026.ROC-1316    | Article Id: ROC-1316 | Page : 294-300
Citation :- Impact of growing media on the growth, productivity and quality of gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) cultivars. Res. Crop. 27: 294-300
MASINA SAIRAM, SHAIK RISHITHA, DURGA PRASAD PADHI, SUMIT RAY, SATYA PRASAD NANDA, SANTOSH, D. T. AND SAGAR MAITRA durga.prasad1974@gmail.com
Address : M. S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi, Odisha, India
Submitted Date : 2-05-2026
Accepted Date : 2-06-2026
Online Published:

Abstract

The controlled environment cultivation of high-value crops for a higher income from the unit area is gaining popularity nowadays. Flowers with superior quality, such as gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii L.) has a steady demand in the urban market, targeting the choice of valued customers and demands. Simultaneously, productivity and quality of gerbera cultivars are important. In the expression of the growth and yield, the growing media play a vital role. Considering the above-mentioned facts, research was conducted at the M. S. Swaminathan School of Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management (CUTM), Paralakhemundi, Odisha, from January 2022 to December 2023 in a naturally ventilated polyhouse using a split-plot design with four gerbera cultivars and three growing media. Beds were prepared, sterilised, amended with nutrients, and seedlings were transplanted at 35 × 30 cm spacing under controlled microclimate conditions. Growth and yield parameters were recorded at 40-day interval up to 120 DAP, and flower quality traits were assessed at the end of the first year. Among cultivars, Dana-ellen established its superiority in terms of plant height (46.6 cm), number of suckers (3.24) at 120 days after planting (DAP) and number of leaves/ plant (18.6) at 80 DAP. The cultivar Dana-ellen produced the highest number of flowers/ plants annually and over a three year of crop cycle (90.0) with quality parameters such as flower diameter (9.88 cm), flower stalk length (65.1 cm) and ray floret length (8.83 cm). As a growing medium, the potting mix established its significant superiority over other media in the expression of growth parameters, quality characteristics and total productivity (87.7 flowers in three years). The study concludes that the gerbera cultivar Dana-ellen can be chosen to grow in the potting mix medium for higher growth, flower quality and yield in the naturally ventilated polyhouse. 

Keywords

Cut-flower yield flower stalk length gerbera number of leaves polyhouse potting mix 

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