Effect of Potassium and Zinc Deficiencies on Growth Parameters of Gerbera under Polyhouse Condition

The results of the experiment revealed that K and Zn deficient treatments showed significantly inferior results in respect to growth parameters viz., number of suckers per plant, number of leaves per plant, plant height and plant spread. The K and Zn deficient treatments showed significantly inferior results in respect to quality parameters viz., height of flower stalk, flower diameter, green and dry weight of individual flower, vase life of flower, number of flower per plant and more number of days required for flower maturity over all nutrients application treatments. The significant reduction in yield of gerbera, green and dry matter production per plant, nutrient content and nutrient uptake observed due to the K and Zn deficient treatment. The K deficient treatments showed marginal necrosis of leaves and flowers became pale, which are the typical symptoms. The Zn deficient treatments showed formation of smaller sized thicker leaves which caused rosette formation and interveinal chlorosis of leaves with green spots at somewhere which are typical symptoms.