Effect of potassein spray on growth and chemical composition of Furcrea foetida Cv. Mediopicta L. plants

Cacetus and succulents plants are one of the most important sources of many medical compounds, pigments and coir so they have wide range of uses in landscape of gardens. The experimental trials presented in this paper was conducted throughout two successive seasons (2008 and 2009) at the nursery of Orman Botanical garden, Giza, aiming to find out the response of two types of potassein N (K-N) and potassein P (K-P) for producing plants of high quality. Potassein treatments, were applied on 1st March as a foliar spray for three times at monthly intervals at three levels ( 0.00, 3.00, 6.00 ml/L) and combination of both. Results indicated that plant height, stem diameter number of leaves/plant, leaf area, fresh and dry weights of leaves, root length, fresh and dry weights of roots as well as chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids contents and N, P and K percentages were significantly increased in response to the various treatments used in the current study comparing with that gained from untreated plants ( control). From the results it could be recommended that spraying the foliage of Furcrea foetida with ( 6 ml/L, K-N plus 6 ml/L K-P ), three once every month during the growing season was the best treatments in producing highest quality of growth.