Profitability of Lilium Flowers as Influenced by Light and Ascorbic Acid in a Greenhouse
Publication Date: 14/03/2021
Author(s): A.M. El Sawy, Mona M. Aly, Assem A. A. Mohamed.
Volume/Issue: Volume 4 , Issue 1 (2021)
Abstract:
The experiment was conducted under greenhouse at Dokki- Giza, Egypt during two seasons 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 to study the effects of ascorbic acid and artificial light on vegetative growth and flowering parameters of lilium plants (plant height, plant weight, number of leaves, leaf area, stem diameter, number of flower buds, inflorescence length, number of days to flowering, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium content and chlorophyll). White LED lamps (11 W- A60 – 1200 lm) were used as an artificial light. They were applied during the night to elongate the photoperiod; Control (without artificial light), Continuous light and Intermittent light. Ascorbic acid treatments were spraying plant foliar at concentration 300 ppm. The results indicated that there was a significant increase in all lilium parameters, achieved by treating plants with intermittent light and spraying ascorbic acid twice. Light is a major factor in the control of lilium height. Using lighting technology and ascorbic acid can improve lilium plants quality. The study reveals that the total production cost of lilium was estimated to be 20048 Egyptian pounds (LE) per 540 square meters area in the first season, while the total production cost of lilium in the second season was estimated to be LE 20213. The (intermittent light+ twice foliar spraying of ascorbic acid) treatment had the highest gross margin which is LE 48251 and LE 48231 for the first and second seasons, respectively. The benefit-cost ratios (BCRs) per 540 squares meters were analysed, and (intermittent light+ twice foliar spraying of ascorbic acid) treatment had the highest BCR with 21.2 in the first season and 21.02 in the second season.
Keywords:
Lilium, Light, Greenhouse, Ascorbic Acid, Benefit- Cost Ratio, Gross Margin
