Evaluation of Flowering Pattern, Yield and Yield Determinants of Hybrid Tea Rose in Response to Seasonal Variations and Applied Organic Manure Rates

Abstract

Seasonal variations in environmental conditions can have significant influence on flowering pattern and yield of roses. Evaluation studies were conducted to determine the flowering pattern and yield determinants of two Hybrid Tea rose cultivars in response to seasonal variations under rainfed conditions. The 2 × 2 × 4 factorial experiment arranged in split plot design at three replications was conducted at two seasons (dry and wet) using two cultivars (cv. "Immaculate" and "P.H. Baby", white and red flowers respectively) supplied with poultry manure (PM) application rates at 5, 10 and 20 t/ha where the unfertilized (0 t/ha) served as control. The result showed that the year two environmental conditions of both experiment I and II significantly improved plant height, number of leaves, number of buds (CNB) and opened flowers (CNF) and flower yield (FYD). "Immaculate" was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) taller with more leaves but thinner girth. Although generally lower in NF/NB, and not different in FYD, the "P.H. Baby" had more flowers (CNB and CNF) in experiment I. Except for no significant difference in FYD and lower NF/NB recorded by all manure rates compared to control in experiment II, plants treated with 5 t/ha PM recorded more flowers (CNB and CNF). Significant first and second order interaction effects (p ≤ 0.05) showed that "Immaculate" had taller height and more leaves but "P.H. Baby" had more CNB and CNF, although both were not different in FYD. In addition, plants supplied with 5 t/ha PM rates were better in plant height, number of leaves, CNB and CNF compared to other manure rates. In conclusion, year two environmental conditions supported better crop growth and yield, "Immaculate" grew better vegetatively but both were not different in floral yield, while the 5 t/ha PM was considered the optimum manure application rate under the rain-fed condition. O. O. Olubode et al.465