Influence of planting mediums on growth of Ficus Carica

• Main Authors: Nik Rusmadi, Nik Nadira Nazua, Shahari, Rozilawati, Che Amri, Che Nurul Aini, Tajudin, Nur Shuhada
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Network for Natural Sciences 2020
• Subjects: QK Botany; S Agriculture (General)
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/84705/7/84705%20Influence%20of%20planting%20mediums%20on%20growth%20of%20Ficus%20Carica.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/84705/; https://www.innspub.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/IJB-Vol-17-No-1-p-245-250.pdf

Ficus carica or locally known as fig is a species belonging to the Moraceae family. It is native to the Middle East and Western Asia but has been reported to have been cultivated in Malaysia. Information on the agronomic requirements of this species is still lacking at present. Thus, this field trial was conducted to study the growth and yield of F. carica as affected by different planting mediums. Ficus carica cv. BTM6 two months old seedling and Ficus carica cv. TGF was grown in the Glass House and Nursery Complex at the International Islamic University Malaysia. Four different combinations of coco peat, peat moss, topsoil and sand were used as a growing medium. The potted plant was arranged in a split-plot design with five replications. Growth and yield parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, number of fruits and fruit weight have been recorded. The data was statistically analysed using the SAS version 9.2 package and the means were separated by the Duncan New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) at ρ = 0.05. Based on this study, the combination of 25% sand: 25% topsoil: 25% peat moss: 25% coco peat (M1) gives both F. carica cv. BTM6 and F. carica cv. TGF better growth and yield. This study also concluded that the use of peat moss as one of the growing medium mixtures increases the growth and yield of F. carica varieties.