EFFECT OF VERMICOMPOST FERTILIZER AND PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON SOME CHEMICAL PROPERTIES, GROWTH, AND FLOWERING OF CAMELLIA JAPONICA PLANT

This experiment aimed to improve the growth and flowering of Camellia japonica by applying vermicompost fertilizer (0%, 7.5%, 15%) and its symbols V0 ,V1,V2 sequentially, and foliar application plant growth regulators (salicylic acid in concentration 0,100,200 mg L-1 and its symbols S0,S1,S2 and gibberellic acid in concentration 0,150,300 mg L-1 and its symbols G0,G1,G2 resleetively). The plants were cultivated under a shade net structure of the Department of Horticulture and Garden Engineering - College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences - University of Baghdad .Using randomized Complete Block Design(RCBD). The V2S2G2 treatment showed significant improvements in vegetative and flowering growth indicators. plant height reached 95.3 cm, and 120.5 cm, and chlorophyll content was 252.7 mg100-1 g and 280.8 mg100-1 g, respectively, in the two seasons. The carbohydrate percentage was59.4% and 66.1%. Flowering indicators included improved dry matter percentage in flowers (11.96% and 12.18%), The concentration of anthocyanin dye also reached248.8 and 257.5 mg L-1 dry weight. The percentage of magnesium was 0.59% and 0.63%, and iron concentration was 123.8 mg kg-1 and 131.4 mg kg-1 in both seasons.