Efficiency of coconut fiber in growing Petunia Multiflora

In this work, we investigate the economic effi ciency of applying coconut fi ber as a component of soil in the cultivation of petunia multifl ora seedlings. A technology for growing petunia seedlings from seeds is proposed. In comparison with the conventional approach, sown seeds are distributed over a snow layer without subsequent embedding with soil. Data for two vegetation periods, i.e., 2021-2022, were obtained. Following the fi rst year of research, the feasibility of implementing coconut fi ber in the composition of soil when growing petunia seedlings from seeds was justifi ed on the basis of germination data. In terms of germination, the variant with the use of a soil mixed with coconut fi ber showed the highest values, reaching 55 % and exceeding the control by 25 %. In the second vegetation period, the infl uence of inclusion of coconut fi ber in the soil composition on the growth and development of petunia plants at diff erent ratios of soil components was studied. The optimum ratio of soil components by volume was established to be as follows: 30 % of Agricola universal soil + 70 % of coconut fi ber. The quantitative indicators of germination, biometric indicators, and seedling quality index in the experimental variants are presented. The highest parameters of weight, plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, and length of the largest leaf were obtained in the variant of 30 % Agricola universal soil + 70 % coconut fi ber. The maximum seedling quality index, i.e., the ratio of plant weight (g) to its height (cm), was 0.13. A comparative economic evaluation in terms of production costs per of 1000 pcs of plants is given. The highest biometric indices and seedling quality index were obtained when using soil in the ratio of 30 % universal soil + 70 % coconut fi ber. The profi t from the use of soil with the optimal ratio of components was 19.3 % higher compared to the conventional technology due to the increase in the sale price of seedlings with a higher quality index