American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci., 12 (2): 249-258, 2012 ISSN 1818-6769 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 Corresponding Author: Shahina Yasmeen, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. 249 Effect of Different Substrates on Growth and Flowering of Dianthus caryophyllus cv. ‘Chauband Mixed’ Shahina Yasmeen, Adnan Younis, Adnan Rayit, Atif Riaz and Saira Shabeer Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan Abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the growth and flowering response of different potting media for the commercial variety of carnation viz. ‘Chaubad Mixed’. Different substrates including sand, silt, leaf manure, farmyard manure and garden soil were used in different proportions to check the best suitable medium for carnation plant. Plants parameters of growth and flowering such as plant height, number of branches/plant, length of branches/plant, number of leaves/plant, leaf area (cm ), least days to first flower emergence, number 2 of flowers/plant, flower diameter (cm) and quality of the flowers showed good results in silt and garden soil but overall leaf compost + sand showed best results while, farmyard manure with higher pH produced the least results regarding all plant parameters. Analysis of potting medium reflected that substrates with appropriate nutrients, electrical conductivity and organic matter, can be amended with different organic materials with different combinations at different rates. Key words: Carnation Potting medium Substrates Properties of media Chauband Mixed INTRODUCTION key role in quality production of carnation flower. For There is a continuing interest by using various four functions: 1) provide water, 2) supply nutrients, 3) agricultural by-products as an organic nutrient source for permit gas exchange to and from the roots and 4) plants due to increasing environment-related issues, as provide support for the plants Nelson [9]. Different well as the need to dispose of and use rising amounts of growing media can be used to grow carnation while the waste Grigatti [1]. Recycling organic waste including dung physical and chemical properties of media like structure, of dairy cattle, poultry waste and animal litter are used as texture, pH as well as nitrogen, phosphorus and main source of organic matter for supply of essential potassium are the dominant factors for the growth and minerals needed to plants [2-4]. A key advantage for development of plant Larson [10]. These properties using composted material is its potential to resist against determine the availability of nutrients to plants, mobility root diseases Raviv [5] and also composts from waste of water into or through soil and penetration of roots in material have the potential to substitute a significant the soil. Soil mixes play an important role in pot plant proportion of peat in the growth medium of potted production. Their chemical and physical properties ornamentals Papafotiou et al. [6]. determine the nutritional status of potting media to Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.), (family sustain better plant growth Gabriels et al. [11]. caryophyllaceae) native to Mediterranean region Salehi Composition and nutritional status of the media is [7] is one among the most popular commercial cut flowers reported by Khasa et al. [12] and Carlile [13] to be helpful of the world and ranked second in commercial importance for the production of good quality flowering plants with next only to rose. Though cut carnations are traded in the more number of flowers and greater size. Organic matter world market year round, Carnations are high in demand contents of the planting medium have a profound effect on Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day and Christmas. on its biological, chemical and physical properties. Miniature carnations are now gaining popularity for their When after the decomposition of the organic matter, potential use in floral arrangement Anonymous [8]. chemical elements become available to the plants. Organic Different types of factors affect the growth and matter provides food and energy to the micro organisms development of carnation plants. Among them potting and they help to build good soil structure. All organic media is one of the most important factors which play a matter, except for a small fraction, comes from plants proper shoot and root growth, a root medium must serve