ROOTING CUTTINGS OF WEEPING FIG (FICUS BENJAMINA L.) USING A COMPLEX FERTILIZER OF PROLONGED ACTION
Gimgina Ekaterina Dmitrievna - the student of the third year of bachelor's degree in the field of preparation 35.03.05 «Gardening», FSAEI HE «University of Tyumen», Russia, 625003, Tyumen region, Tyumen, Volodarskogo str., 6, ekaterina.gimgina@gmail.com
Galanov Aleksandr Eduardovich - engineer of the 1st category, Branch of Federal Budgetary Institution «All-Russian Research Institute for Silviculture and Mechanization of Forestry» «Siberian Forest Experimental Station» , Russia, 625017, Tyumen region, Tyumen, str. Mechanizatorov, 5A, building 2, galanov@vniilm.ru
Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina L., 1767) is an ornamental plant. It is widely used in indoor landscaping. In this regard, the issue of creating high-quality planting material, which can be obtained by vegetative propagation by cuttings, is urgent. The aim of the study was to study the effect of prolonged fertilizer on F. benjamina and determine the optimal doses of its application, taking into account the vital condition of semi-woody cuttings. A complex mineral long-lasting fertilizer with the formula 17-11-10+2MgO+TE was chosen as the object of the study. Its effectiveness was evaluated experimentally by monitoring the survival rate, survival rate and vital condition of F. benjamina cuttings. During the experiment, the effectiveness of fertilizer application in dosages from 1.0 to 4.0 g/l was studied. The results of the study showed the effectiveness of using a complex prolonged fertilizer in dosages of 2.0–3.0 g/l recommended by the manufacturer. Based on the data obtained, the well-known scale for assessing the vital condition of ornamental woody and shrubby vegetation was modified using the example of potential F. benjamina seedlings of vegetative origin. Among the experimental variants studied, variants V2 and V3 with a dosage of 2.0 and 3.0 g/l, respectively, demonstrated the greatest effectiveness. In the first case, I (60%) and II (40%) categories of vital condition were noted, in the second — I (80%) and IV (20%) during control. At the same time, almost the same distribution of scale categories was observed in all variants. Variant V2 showed the best quality of the planting material with 100% survival and increased resistance to pathogens compared to other variants. The use of long-acting fertilizers is essential in the field of landscaping territories and spaces. Their use in the future can ensure the plants' need for mineral nutrition for 5-6 months. This requires additional research using a wider range of data for comparison with fertilizers that do not have a prolonged effect on the species under study.
Key words: Ficus benjamina; complex fertilizers of prolonged action; mineral nutrition; vegetative propagation by cuttings; rooting; plant condition; semi-woody cuttings; landscaping; protected soil; fertilizer doses.
