GENETIC POTENTIAL OF BERMUDA GRASS (CYNODON DACTYLON L.) IN RESPONSE TO FOLIAR APPLICATION OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER (LIBRO) AND CULTAR (PACLOBUTRAZOL)

Abstract

A study on the Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L.) materialized from February to October 2022 at the Department of Horticulture and Landscaping, College of Agriculture, University of Anbar, Iraq. The organic fertilizer Libro used comprised four concentrations (0, 1, 2, and 3 ml L-1) and the growth retardant Paclobutrazol with three concentrations (0.00, 0.03, and 0.05 g2), with their interaction effects assessed on the vegetative, phenotypic, and chemical characteristics of Bermuda grass. All the 12 treatments had randomized complete block design (RCBD) arrangements, with three replications. The results showed that Bermuda grass with organic fertilizer Libro at a concentration of 3 ml L-1 led to a significant increase in most vegetative growth and phenotypic and chemical characteristics. The number of vegetative branches, the percentage of chlorophyll and carbohydrates, and the degree of acceptability of quality and homogeneity emerged with 8.912 plant branches-1, 19.129%, 30.892 mg g-1, and 6.778, respectively. However, the rates of internode length and the number of mowing times decreased after treating the Bermuda grass with Paclobutrazol at 0.05 g2 concentration, recorded with 5.840 mm and 2.000, respectively.