CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT OF THE CARNATION PROTECTED CULTIVATION

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1 NATURAL RESOURCES AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, 2013 CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENT OF THE CARNATION PROTECTED CULTIVATION 195 Vlad Ioan*, Vlad Mariana, Vlad Ioana Adra *University of Oradea, Faculty of Environmental Protection Bd. Gen. Magheru No. 26. Romania Abstract: Greenhouse carnations (American carnations) were obtained from the crossing between Dianthus caryophyllus and Dianthus chinensis. The majority of cultivars are placed in Sim group characterized by high flower and plant vigor. Mediterranean carnations were obtained by crossing American and Nice carnations. During the summer, the cultures need shading to reduce with 50-75% full light intensity, substantial aeration being one of important factors for the culture success. Cultivation substrate must be rich in organic matter and nutrient content, ph level of 6-7. To ensure adequate branching and establishment of bushes it is recommended to trim the shoots 2-3 times and after full development of floral stems, to trim lateral shoots and supplementary floral buds. The carnations bloom after days since planting. The harvesting is performed manually by snapping the floral stems at internodes or by cutting with scissors or harvester knives. Carnation flowers have long vase life, up to 14-17days at room temperature. Cultivation of carnations is profitable but must be adapted to the applied technology. Key words: Dianthus caryophyllus, carnations Sim, Mediterranean carnations, cultivar, organic fertilizer INTRODUCTION Among the rich assortment of cultivated flower species, the carnations occupy a leading position due to their qualities (Bensa, 1986). Carnations are increasingly appreciated in all countries because of their dimensions, beauty of the flowers, stem length and rigidity, high yields per m 2 with uniform repartition all the yearlong (Anton, 1990). The extended color palette, to which presently new nuances are added, satisfies the most varied consumers preferences (Vlad, 2011). The carnation is a resilient flower under maintenance and shipping conditions therefore being preferred in floral art for the assembly of bouquets, wreaths and shop windows decorations (Lammens, 1989). A small number of flowers per bouquet give a pleasant impression but also, larger bouquets composed of many flowers do not look overcrowded (Miliţiu, 1987). Growers prefer this type of culture because of the high productivity reaching 200 stems/m 2 which leads to substantial income. Costs of glasshouses on metallic frames designed for carnations cultivation are covered in 2-4 years (Zaharia, 1994). The carnation is highly demanded on export markets contributing to commercial exchanges with other countries (Kiselev, 1986). During the winter season, carnation cultivation succeeds better than any other flower culture (Sonea, 1989). Combining carnation cultivation with vegetables saves space in greenhouses and hotbeds (Mareş, 1989).

2 Compared to other cultivated flower species, the carnations present certain technical and economic advantages among which are (Georget, 1986): The relative easiness in producing plant material. Possibility to plant in any season and the management of flower production. Flower resilience to maintenance conditions. Positive economic results. MATERIAL AND METHOD Two types of carnations were employed for the experiments namely Sim (American) and Mediterranean (obtained from the crossing of American and Nice cultivar, Scania and Vanessa cultivars). Scania is a red cultivar, tall, with many petals, leaves reaching 8-10 cm, covered with bluish wax. The flowers present a long, cylindrical calyx, less exposed to cracking compared to other cultivars, height of stem reaching cm (Preda, 1989). Vanessa cultivar presents purple flowers, the stem reaches cm, the leaves are linear (7-12 x cm), pruinose with bluish tinge, in opposite pairs. The area of the unit experimental plot was of 8 m 2 while the total area of experimental block was of 192 m 2. The number of plants per unit plot was 192, corresponding to a plant density of plants/ha, total number of plants reaching 4608 units. The planting was performed on May 26 th 2011, the date corresponding to the optimum for the area where the experiment was performed. 5 rows per layer were planted, the layers being erected by adding extra 15 cm combined to a width of 0.9 m. The planted material was healthy and vigorous. The planting depth for the cuttings corresponded to the propagation bed depth. The cultivation substrate was of 40 cm depth: plants were watered after plantation using reduced pressure in the hose. The cut-flowers sale is dominated by carnations and during the important anniversary periods the demand in carnations cannot be entirely covered by the growers. Therefore the growers must be aware of this demand and the employment of intensive technology, of cultivars characterized by short vegetation periods from planting to flowering, the possibility of prolonged maintenance of flowers in cool storehouses become important (Şelaru, 1995). In hotbed culture at the beginning of October, a second thinner plastic sheet beneath the outer sheet was employed to confer a better protection against coldness and plant diseases which are stimulated by the condensation of water vapors. These are retained under the interior sheet which stops the water from dropping on the plants. When plants reached the phase of six pairs of leaves, first clipping was performed leaving only 3-4 pairs of leaves on the stem. The work was performed on June 20th, in the morning when the shoots were turgescent. The second clipping was performed on July 15th.Before and after the clipping plants were treated with Dithane M45 0.2% and Ortocid 5%. A trellis was erected on June 10 th and the intermediary frames were fixed at 3 m distance in between: the net was made of cord. The trellis was attached to fully grown plants. The first net had the mesh size of 10 x 10 cm while the net corresponding to higher levels had the mesh size of 15 x 15 cm. The research on the influence of substrate on the production and quality of protected cultivation of carnations was organized between 2011 and 2013 as two factorial design with 3 levels of the factor A and 2 levels of the factor B. 196

3 Factor A cultivation substrate: A 1 in peat 75% and sand 25% A 2 in fertilized soil using organic fertilizer A 3 in unfertilized soil (no organic fertilizer) Factor B carnation cultivar and type: B 1 carnations Sim, cultivar Scania B 2 Mediterranean carnations, cultivar Vanessa. The combination of factors resulted in 6 experimental levels in split blocks and 4 repetitions. Table1 Experimental levels, Sîntandrei Levels Cultivation substrate Carnation type and cultivar I A 1 in peat 75% and sand 25% B 1 carnations Sim, cultivar Scaria II A 1 in peat 75% and sand 25% B 2 Mediterranean carnations, cultivar Vanessa III A 2 in fertilized soil using B 1 carnations Sim, cultivar Scaria organic fertilizer IV A 2 in fertilized soil using B 2 Mediterranean carnations, cultivar organic fertilizer Vanessa V A 3 in unfertilized soil B 1 carnations Sim, cultivar Scaria VI A 3 in unfertilized soil B 2 Mediterranean carnations, cultivar Vanessa First trellis with was erected on June 28th, at 10 cm height from soil level. The second trellis was added on July 20th at 17 cm height from the first net. The third, fourth and fifth nets were installed at 20 cm distances in between. As shoots and flower buds emerged, the clipping was performed: competing shoot and flower buds were cut from lateral to let the leaves in normal position. The chemical fertilization was identical for all three levels beginning with the second month since planting. All fertilizations were performed after soil analysis, twice a month. 10 fertilizations were performed using 20 g/m 2 N, 1 g/m 2 P 2 O 5, 55 g/m 2 K 2 O (expressed in quantities per hectare: 2000 kg N, 100 kg P 2 O 5,550 kg K 2 O). The small quantities of administrated phosphorus were motivated by high soil content in this element. Levels 2 and 3 were fertilized employing 200 t /ha of organic fertilizer. The greenhouse culture of carnations requires healthy plants during the entire cultivation period. Rigorous prevention and control of carnations diseases and pests in the experimental culture during were provided. These consisted in soil and frames disinfections and application of chemical control of diseases and pests (table 2). During the planting period ( ), the culture was shadowed. During the first 15 days since plantation air humidity was maintained between 80% and 90%, later this was reduced to 55-56%, this level being maintained as culture progressed. For air humidity increase, watering was performed using sprinklers and for the decrease ventilation was employed. Cultivation substrate was disinfected three weeks in advance incorporating in soil 70 g/m 2 Basamid by means of rotary hoe. Next operation consisted in watering and covering the soil with plastic foil for 10 days. During this period the disinfectant decomposed and soil temperature raised to16-18 C.Chemical disinfection is less efficient compared to steam disinfection but is cheaper and easier to apply. 197

4 Table 2 Phytosanitary treatments applied to carnation in protected cultivation, Sîntandrei no Pathogen/pest Product Conc.% 1 Fusarium oxysporum 2 Uromyces caryophillinus 3 Tethramicus urticae Bavistan Benagro Benlate Poliramcombi Baileton Plamvax Omite Nissorum Neoron Treatment date Myzus persicae Fernos RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Application On soil, surrounding the plants Foliar treatments (including the lower surface of the leaves) Foliar treatments Foliar treatments During the experiments, the total yield of carnation flowers was higher in level 2 (culture in fertilized soil using organic fertilizer) in type Sim carnations (cultivar Scania) as well as in Mediterranean type carnations (cultivar Vanessa). In level 2, total yield reached stems/m 2 in cultivar Scania and 113 stems/m 2 in cultivar Vanessa. Next high productivity was obtained in level 1 (culture in peat 75% and sand 25%), of stems/m 2 in cultivar Scania and 107 stems/m 2 in cultivar Vanessa. The smallest yield was obtained in level 3 (in unfertilized soil, no organic fertilizer) consisting of 89.7 stems/m 2 in cultivar Scania and 87 stems/m 2 in cultivar Vanessa. Concerning the harvesting dynamics, the first flowers were harvested on November 23 rd in level 2 (in fertilized soil using organic fertilizer), followed by level 1 (culture in peat 75% and sand 25%) in November 27 th and level 3 (culture in unfertilized soil, no organic fertilizer) in November 30 th (both cultivars). These results were determined by higher soil temperatures at root level and by better water and nutrient contribution. Statistical analysis indicates extremely distinctive differences between the experimental levels consisting of cultures in organically fertilized soil and control for both cultivars. Also, there are distinctly significant differences between the culture with Vanessa cultivar in level 1 (culture in peat 75% and sand 25%) and the control of Vanessa cultivar (table 4), distinctly significant difference between the culture in peat 75% and sand 25% and control culture with Scania cultivar (table 3). 198

5 Table 3 The yield of carnation flowers in type Sim, Scania cultivar obtained under the influence of cultivation substrate, Sîntandrei Yield The Absolute Stems/m 2 Relative % ±D significance of the difference Culture in peat 75% and sand 25% ** Culture in fertilized soil using organic fertilizer *** Culture in unfertilized soil DL 5% - 7.7; DL 1% ; DL % Table 4 The yield of carnation flowers in type Mediterranean, Vanessa cultivar obtained under the influence of cultivation substrate, Sîntandrei Yield The significance Absolute Relative ±D Stems/m 2 of the difference % Culture in peat 75% and sand 25% *** Culture in fertilized soil using organic fertilizer *** Culture in unfertilized soil DL 5% - 7.7; DL 1% ; DL % Commercial grade of the flowers was similar in all experimental levels. In what concerns the first grade flowers, the reported percentages in all levels were: between 96.5 and 85.2% in cultivar Scania and between 95.9 and 84.2% in Mediterranean carnations, cultivar Vanessa. Highest percentage of first grade flowers in both cultivars were obtained under the cultivation in fertilized soil using organic fertilizers: 95.5% in cultivar Scania and 95.9 in cultivar Vanessa, confirmed by extremely significant difference compared to the control. Table 5 The commercial grade of Sim type carnations, Scania cultivar, Sîntandrei Yield of first grade Total flowers ± The significance yield Stems/m 2 Absolute Relative D of the difference Stems/m 2 % Culture in peat 75% and sand 25% * Culture in fertilized soil using organic fertilizer *** Culture in unfertilized soil DL 5% - 4.5; DL 1% ; DL % Table 6 The commercial grade of Mediterranean type carnations, Vanessa cultivar, Sîntandrei Yield of first grade The Total flowers significance yield Stems/m 2 Absolute ±D Relative of the Stems/m 2 % difference Culture in peat 75% and sand 25% * Culture in fertilized soil using organic *** fertilizer Culture in unfertilized soil DL 5% ;DL 1% ;DL %

6 CONCLUSIONS Two types of carnations were employed for the experiments namely Sim (American) and Mediterranean (obtained from the crossing of American and Nice cultivar, Scania and Vanessa cultivars). Scania is a red cultivar, tall, with many petals, leaves reaching 8-10 cm, covered with bluish wax. The flowers present a long, cylindrical calyx, less exposed to cracking compared to other cultivars, height of stem reaching cm During the experiments, the total yield of carnation flowers was higher in level 2 (culture in fertilized soil using organic fertilizer) in type Sim carnations (cultivar Scania) as well as in Mediterranean type carnations (cultivar Vanessa). Statistical analysis indicates extremely distinctive differences between the experimental levels consisting of cultures in organically fertilized soil and control for both cultivars. Also, there are distinctly significant differences between the culture with Vanessa cultivar in level 1 (culture in peat 75% and sand 25%) and the control culture of Vanessa cultivar (table 4), distinctly significant difference between the culture in peat 75% and sand 25% and control culture with Scania cultivar. All growth markers (floral stem length, flower dimension, flower diameter, number of petals and average weight per stem) showed higher values under the cultivation on fertilized soil using organic fertilizers. Commercial grade of flowers expressed as percentage of first grade flowers was high in experimental levels cultivated on fertilized soil. The cultivation of carnations in protected environment depends on microclimate control especially during the summer months for temperature reduction and maintenance of the adequate air humidity. The protected cultivation of carnations is a profitable activity depending on the employed technology. REFERENCES 1. Anton D Floricultură specială. Ed. Univ. Craiova 2. Bensa S Floricultura industriale. Ed. Agricola, Italia 3. Bossard, R Cultures florales. Publishing House. J.B. Balliere et Filis,Paris. 4. Georget,P Floriculture. Ed. Spes, Lausanne. 5. Kiselev, G.E Floricultura. Ed. Agro-Silvică, Bucureşti. 6. Lammens, e Floriculture. Ed. A de Boeck, Bruxelles. 7. Laurie, A., Ries, H Floriculture. McGraw-Hill Book Company. 8. Mareş, M Nou sortiment de garoafe pe plan european. Revista de Horticultură, mai. 9. Miliţiu A., Ailincăi N., Floricultura. Ed. Didactică şi Pedagogică, Bucureşti. 10. Preda, M Floricultura. Ed. Ceres, Bucuureşti. 11. Şelaru, E Floricultura. I.A.B.N., Bucureşti. 12. Şelaru, E Culturi de seră pentru flori tăiate. Ed. Ceres, Bucureşti. 13. Sonea, V Floricultură generală. Tipografia Universităţii Craiova. 14. Sonea, V., Pavel, A., Şelaru, E Floricultura. Ed. Didactică şi Pedagogică, Bucureşti. 15. Vlad, I Lucrări practice de floricultură. Ed. Imprimeriei de Vest, Oradea. 16. Vlad, I Floricultură. Ed. Imprimeriei de Vest, Oradea. 17. Vlad, I Floricultură. Ed. Universităţii Oradea. 18. Zaharia, D Efectul densităţii plantelor aupra producţiei şi calităţii garoafelor. Buletinul USMV, Cluj-Napoca. 19. Zaharia, D Floricultură. Tipografia Agronomia, Cluj-Napoca. 20. Zaharia, D Lucrări practice de floricutură. Tipografia Agronomia, Cluj-Napoca. 21. Zaharia, D Factori stimulatori ai procesului de rizogeneză la butaşii de garoafe. Buletinul USMV, Cluj-Napoca. 200