Two field experiments were carried out at the Vegetable and Ornamental Plants Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura Univ., Egypt, during the two successive seasons of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 to study the influence of calcium superphosphate at 1.05 and 2.10 g / plant, potassium sulphate at 0.70 and1.40 g / plant, and yeast extract at 1, 2 and 3 g/L as foliar sprays once monthly for three months on growth, flowering and chemical composition of tuberose plant.
Yeast extract at 3 g / L was very effective in stimulating vegetative growth and flower as well as mineral content, the use of calcium superphosphate at 1.05 g / plant has led to increase the leaf area, dry weight of leaves, and increase the length and number of flowers. While, the use of concentration 2.10 g / plant led to the shortest period from planting to flowering and harvest in both seasons. The use of potassium sulfate at 0.70 g / plant has led to increase dry weight of leaves and decreased period from planting to flowering and harvest. Besides, the length of spike and the number of flowers / spike and total chlorophyll in the leaves were increased. While, the use of concentration 1.40 g / plant has led to increase the mineral content in the leaves.
Application of yeast extract at 3g/L combined with calcium superphosphate at 2.10g, potassium sulphate at 1.40g in addition to yeast extract at 3g/L, calcium superphosphate 2.10g and potassium sulphate 0.70 g induced higher values concerning (leaf area and dry weight ) over all the other treatments. Moreover, least number of days until harvesting was achieved. Flower quality had higher values and flower number were increased. In addition photosynthetic pigments studied (chlorophyll a+b) when compared with other treatments.
Thus, it could be concluded that spraying tuberose plants with yeast extract (3g/L), calcium superphosphate (1.05g) and potassium sulphate (0.70g / plant) once monthly for three months induced the best vegetative growth and flower quality and economically save about half doses of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer.
Yeast nutrition is considered as a potent, safety and costless natural stimulator.