Evaluate the Growth and Production of Celery in Different Substrate Systems

Abstract

An experiment has been conducted in the rooftop garden of Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate (CLAC), Agricultural Research Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Dokki, Giza, Egypt during seasons of (2021/2022) and (2022/2023). The aim of this work was to evaluate the growth and production of celery in different substrate systems and under different planting densities. Two factors were under investigation in this work in relation to growth and yield of celery, their description were as follow: first, substrate systems (pot system and shallow beds system). Second, Planting density (15 plants per m2 “D-A”, 18 plants per m2 “D-B” and 21 plants per m2 “D-C”). In pots system, each pot was filled with 5 liters from mixture of (coco peat: sand: perlite 2:1:1 v/v/v). In shallow beds system, the entire depth of the bed filled with 100 liters of the same substrate mixture. The obtained results indicated that regarding the impact substrate system on growth and yield of celery; celery plants grown in pots system recorded the highest values for plant height, number of leaves per plant, root fresh and dry weights, head weight and total heads weight/m2 (yield/m2). Regarding the impact of planting density on growth and yield of celery; density of 15 plants per m2 recorded the highest values for plant height, number of leaves per plant, root fresh and dry weights, head weight. Whereas a density of 15 plants per m2 recorded a higher head weight than a density of 18 plants per m2, but the higher density (18 plant /m2) resulted in a higher yield per m2 (total heads weight/m2).