Performance of Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila paniculata) as Influenced by Different Concoctions and Rates of Inorganic Fertilizers

Baby’s breath has value as an ornamental in floriculture and is a major export for several countries. To maintain the production of baby’s breath, proper nutrient management by application of nutrient sources favorable for ornamental flowering plants is advised. Hence, this study was conducted to assess the performance of a baby’s breath in terms of growth, yield, and return on investment as influenced by different concoctions and rates of inorganic fertilizers. An area of 100.80 m2 was laid out into five blocks adopting the 4 × 4 factorial experiment in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The treatments were designated as follows: For factor A (concoction) – C0-without concoction; C1-fermented plant juice at 2 v/v%; C2-fermented fruit juice at 2 v/v%; C3-calcium phosphate at 5 v/v%, and factor B (inorganic fertilizer) – F0-without fertilizer; F1-90-60-60 N, P2O5, K2O ha-1; F2-45-30-30 N, P2O5, K2O ha-1; F3-25-15-15 N, P2O5, K2O ha-1. The concoctions and the inorganic fertilizer at 25-15-15 N, P2O5, K2O ha-1 both gave a significant plant height to the baby’s breath at 28 DAP. The calcium phosphate at 5 v/v% plus 25-15-15 N, P2O5, K2O ha-1 (T15) was the best combination for improving the plant height of the baby’s breath at 28 DAP, however, all fertilizers affected the baby’s breath similarly to no fertilizer applied in terms of the production of suckers, flowers, and marketable flowers for three months of raising. Thus, the monetary return was negative.