Growth, yield and quality of henna (Lawsonia alba, Lam.) plant as affected by soil type and application of active dry yaest [electronic resource].

Includes reference.

This investigation was carried out at the Floriculture Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Assiut University during the 2000/2001 and 2001/2002 seasons to study the response of henna plant to four soil types; clay loam, loamy sand, clay loam + loamy sand [1: 1 by volume] and silt clay loam in addition to active dry yeast at 0, 2, 4 and 8 g/l as soil drench on growth and active substances (lawsone and tannins), photosynthetic pigments, total carbohydrates, as well as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and protein contents in leaves. The obtained data showed that growing henna plants in a clay loamy soil or its mixtures with loamy sand soil pronouncedly improved plant growth characteristics, and leaf contents of lawsone, tannins, total carbohydrates, photosynthetic pigments, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Meanwhile, the silt clay loamy soil showed little effect on most vegetative growth parameters and leaf contents. Likewise, loamy sand soil had similar effect on leaf content of tannins, nitrogen and protein compared to tested soil mixtures. Drenching yeast to the soil at the high or moderate level resulted in highly significant increments in most studied vegetative growth parameters and leaf analysis compared to that in the low one. The most effective treatment was drenching 4 g/l active yeast into clay loamy soil for all studied parameters. Meanwhile, henna plant can grow well with a slight improvement in their leaves production when biweekly drenched with active dry yeast at 8 g per litre. Thus, it could be recommended to grow henna plants in clay loamy soil and/or mixing it with the other soil types to enhance their qualities to be proper for growing henna. Drenching active dry yeast proved to be a beneficial, safe and cheap source for improving both quality (Lawsone & Tannins) and quantity of henna crop grown in any used soil type under this experiment.

Summary in Arabic.

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