EFFECTS OF SUPERABSORBENT POLYMER ON WATER REQUIREMENT AND GROWTH INDICES OF FICUS BENJAMINA L. 'STARLIGHT'

To investigate the effects of superabsorbent polymers on water requirements and growth indices of Ficus benjamina L. 'Starlight', rooted cuttings were planted in media and treated with six levels of superab-A 200 polymer (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0%) and four irrigation intervals (4, 8, 12, and 16 days). Plant height, leaf number, leaf area, shoot fresh and dry weights, root fresh and dry weights, root/shoot ratio, number of main and lateral shoots, stem diameter and leaf area ratio were measured after nine months. Highest growth was obtained when 1% polymer and a four-day irrigation interval was used.