Influence of sugar cane compost as potting media on vegetative growth, and some biochemical parameters ofPelargonium x hortorum

Compost produced from sugarcane bagasse was substituted at a range of different concentrations into soil bedding medium mixture, to evaluate their effects on the growth ofPelargonium x hortorum. Plants were grown in a substrate mixture (25% leaf compost; 25% cow manure; 50% garden soil (volume) as control and substitution with different rates of sugarcane bagasse compost of 20%, 30%, 40%, 80% and 100% were applied in three replications. The results showed that application of sugarcane compost started to stimulate plant growth at 20% level and continued over other levels; however, there was no significant difference among sugarcane compost levels regarding many growth traits. Application of low rates particularly 20% resulted in the highest record regarding many morphological traits including number of leaves, lateral stems, flowering shoots, flowers, inflorescence diameter, main shoot diameter, shoot and root biomass, and phosphorus concentration. Moreover, nitrogen and potassium concentrations were highest at 40% treatment. A positive increase in chlorophyllabut not chlorophyllbwas found by application of all levels of sugarcane compost compared to control plants.