Iris Flowering Traits Response to Bacterial Biofertilizers and Foliar Nano-Phosphates

Abstract

Abstract The study was conducted during the 2022 growing season to evaluate the effect of bacteria biofertilizers and Nano-phosphate foliar spray on flowering and flower quality of Iris flowers. Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, or Azotobacter chroococcum were injected into the culture medium before planting the bulbs, while foliar spray using superphosphate Nano-fertilizer was applied at levels 0, 1, or 2 mg/L. The bulbs were planted on 10/24/2022 in a factorial R.C.B.D. experiment with three replications. It was found that the values of the studied indicators increased with increasing the concentration of phosphate Nano-fertilizer. It was also found that the biofertilizer bacteria of all the species used led to a similar effect in increasing the flowering indicators under study, even in the absence of Nano-fertilizer. The results showed that the highest mean for all indicators was in the treatment of bacteria A. chroococcum in the presence of Nano-phosphate (P2) fertilization at 2 mg/L, which recorded the highest values of days to flowering (day), spathe length (cm), flower diameter (cm), flower longevity (day), vase life (day), and flower dry matter (%), with a significant differences from the control and most individual and interacted treatments.