Effect of the N/K ratio on yield and quality of gerbera for flower cutting/Efecto de la relación N/K en el rendimiento y calidad de gerbera para flor de corte/Efeito da relacao N/K na produtividade e qualidade do gerbera para o corte de flor

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ratio N/K in productivity and gerbera quality for flower cutting. A completely randomized factorial design was used with four cultivars (Terragina, Gucci, Pacific and Codigo Rojo) X four ratios N/K (NK1: 1.16, NK2: 0.75, NK3: 0.55 and NK4: 0.45) with three replicates of eight plants each. Plants were grown in plastic containers with a 50cc capacity stuffed with red volcanic rock. The evaluated parameters were: production of flowers, flower diameter (cm), stem diameter (mm), stem length (cm), flower quality and stem quality. The results show that the ratios N/K 0.75 and 0.55 could have a positive effect on the number of flowers with regard to ratios N/K 1.15 and 0.45. The Gucci cultivar presented larger diameter of the inflorescence and stem, followed by the Pacific, Codigo Rojo and Terragina cultivars, although it recorded fewer flowers during the growing season. Regarding the flower and stem quality, no statistical differences were found; however, the values reported in the evaluation of this work consider the flowers to be of good quality.