Abstract:
The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of substrate mixture on the growth of Echinodorus
bleherae, a popular freshwater aquarium plant. Four different substrate mixtures, Tl= top soil: sand
3:l(control), T2=top soil: compost: coir dust: sand 1:1:1:1, T3=compost: coir dust: sand 2:1:1, T4=
compost: coir dust: sand 1:2:1 were used with five replicates. Plants (height 8-9cm) were potted in the
individual tanks. The height of the substrate mixture was maintained at 5cm and the water level was
maintained at 8 cm above the substrate. Plant height, stem height, root height, wet weight of the total
plant, number of leaves and surface area of leaves of E. bleherae were evaluated for a period of five weeks.
Plants cultured in T4 treatment showed the best growth performance parameters; height (21.52±5.66cm),
% height gain (0.03±0.01), stem height (8.96±2.60cm), root height (12.56±4.49 cm), wet weight
(1.35±0.65 g), number of leaves (8.40±1.14) and the surface area of leaves (2278.40±1356.27 mm2)
compared to the control (Tl). T2 and T3 treatments were not significantly different from the control. This
study showed that the compost: coir dust: sand=l:2:l is the best growing medium that can be
recommended for commercial culture of Echinodorus bleherae.
