Growth and Biochemical Responses of Dracaena Angustifolia and Beaucarnea Rrecurvata to Slow-Release Fertilizers

• Berivan Abdalakhalq Ghareeb1

  Author

This study evaluates the performance of two slow-release fertilizers, Hydro Complex (HC; NPK12:11:18) and PG-Mix (PG; NPK14:16:18), on the growth performance, biomass accumulation, and biochemical composition of Dracaena angustifolia and Beaucarnea recurvat (syn.  Nolina recurvata.).The aim was to determine the optimal application rate (0, 5, 10, and 15 g / plant) of these fertilizers to achieve maximum growth vigor and ornamental quality for these indoor plants. The experiment was conducted during the 2024 growing season using a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. Data analysis included Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify variance drivers and Pearson correlation to examine relationships between vegetative and biochemical variables. Findings indicated that HC at 15 g per plant brought the most significant changes in vegetative growth, including plant height (46.86% increase in D. angustifolia), leaf count (149.42% increase), and root development. PCA showed that root volume, leaf fresh weight, and chlorophyll had the best positive loading on Component 1. Furthermore, 15 g of HC significantly improved nutrient levels (N, P, K), chlorophyll (89% increase), and carbohydrates (80% increase). While PG-Mix improved growth compared to controls, its effects were generally less noticeable than HC.

Conclusion: Based on these results, applying Hydro Complex at 15 g per plant at four-month intervals is suggested as the best slow-release fertilization practice to enhance the growth and ornamental quality of these indoor ornamental plants

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