EFFECT OF GROWING MEDIA AND NITROGEN FERTILIZATION ON THE GROWTH AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF PASPALUM VAGINATUM, L.

This study was carried out in the Nursery of Floriculture, Ornamental Horticulture and Landscape Gardening Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, during the two successive seasons of 2011 and 2012. The aim was to evaluate the effect of growing media and mineral fertilization on growth of the lawn Paspalum vaginatum,L. Split-plot was the experimented design in three replicates, and sixteen in each. The main plot represented the growing media (A) 100% calcareous soil (B) 50% calcareous soil:50% sand, (C) 50% calcareous soil:50% sewage sludge and (D) 50% calcareous soil:25% sand:25% sewage sludge. The sub-plot nitrogen levels were four (0.00 (N0), 5.00 (N1), 10.00 (N2) and 15.00 (N3) g N/m2). The main results of this study can be summarized in the following points: 1- Generally, medium (C), consisting of 50% calcareous soil:50% sewage sludge with the addition of the fourth level of nitrogen (N3), gave the shortest time to complete covering and gave the best results of leaf blade length and the best results for the total dry weight of vegetative growth parts. 2- The medium (B), containing 50% calcareous soil:50% sand with the addition of the fourth level of nitrogen (N3) gave the best results in terms of roots volume. 3- The media containing either 50% or 25% sand with the addition of the fourth level of nitrogen (N3) gave the best results in terms of dry weight of roots. 4- Chemical analysis showed that there were non significant effects for growing media on the total chlorophylls content and the nitrogen percentage in the leaves. 5- Increasing nitrogen levels led to significant increases in the total chlorophylls content of leaves and the nitrogen % in the dry matter.