FORMULATION OF ORGANIC VASE SOLUTION FOR CUT FLOWERS USING COMPOST AND OTHER NATURAL ADDITIVES

Abstract

Vase life quality of cut flowers is one of the most crucial factors for customer satisfaction. This study investigated the effect of concentration, storage time and temperature on chemical properties of compost tea prepared from municipal solid waste compost, to determine the most suitable concentration of compost tea that would improve the vase life of cut flowers and to assess the effect of natural additives and compost tea mixture on vase life of cut carnation. Three-way ANOVA analysis of physicochemical properties proved significant effect of compost tea concentration, storage duration and storage temperature on physicochemical properties of compost tea. It was stated that other than chrysal, the use of a preservative solution containing 3.5% compost tea led to an increase in vase life of cut carnations. The results showed that 3.5% compost tea (C3.5) amended with 1 mL lemon extract + 0.5 mL rosemary extract (R0.5L1) also increased the vase life of cut carnations and are healthy and nonhazardous alternatives to synthetic chemicals.