The effect of nitrogen fertilization on the yield and quality of tulip cuttings during early spring forcing in protected ground conditions

Tulips have become a traditional cut flower crop in Russia, where they are grown indoors in the winter and spring to produce marketable produce for March 8 and other holidays. Due to the increasing pace of tulip cutting production in Russia, the issue of studying elements of their cultivation technology, in particular the use of fertilizers, is becoming relevant. However, scientifically based recommendations on the technology of using fertilizers and plant protection products when forcing tulips in protected ground conditions have not yet been published. The studies were conducted in protected ground conditions (phytotron of the Remote Hybridization Department of the Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences) in the period from December 2022 to March 2023. The objects of study were two varieties of tulips (Tulipa L.) from the Triumph group: Barcelona, Roman Empire and one variety from the early terry group: Presto. The forcing was carried out using 9-degree technology. The use of calcium nitrate fertilizers had a positive effect on the quality of the resulting products. Fertilization of Bullit tulips with 1% and 2% salt solution had little effect on the tulip height during the cutting period (2nd stage of the cup coloring). The use of 3% calcium nitrate solution, as well as double treatment with 1% solution provided a reliable increase in the height of cut products. The use of fertilization allowed to increase the cup length on different varieties from 1 to 3 cm. The fertilizers used did not affect the yield of commercial products (the number of cut stems per 1 m2). The re­sults of the studies indicate that high-quality planting material, expressed in the bulb size, their proper preparation for the forcing period, compliance with the temperature and humidity conditions allows for a reduction in the amount of fertilizers used.

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