Effect of Substrate Mixture on the Growth Performance of Ornamental Aquatic Plant Echinodorus bleherae “Broad leaved Amazon Swords”

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.