Response of Plum Transplants to Spraying with Licorice Root and Ginger Extracts

Abstract

This study was conducted in private orchard in Baghdad governorate, during 2020 growing season to investigate the influence of licorice root and ginger extracts on growth and leaf mineral content of four year's old trees of “Hollywood” plum transplants. This study included two factors: three levels of licorice root extract spray, 0 (L₀), 4 gm.L^-1 (L₄) and 8 gm.L^-1 (L₈) and three levels of ginger extract spray, 0 (G₀) , 4 gm.L^-1 (G₄) and 8 gm.L^-1 (G₈)  and their interaction. Treatments were replicated three times (two transplants in experimental unit) at factorial experiment in a RCBD. The number of transplants used was 54 transplants. The results showed that, licorice root extract at 8 gm.L^-1 (L₈) significantly increased in transplant height of 47.30 cm and highest leaf area of 15.78 cm² and highest leaf chlorophyll content of 57.55 mg.g^-1, leaf nitrogen content of 1.35 %, leaf potassium content of 1.72 % and leaf iron content of 184.5 mg.kg^-1. Results also showed that ginger extract spray at gm.L^-1 (G₈) gave the highest increased in transplant height of 45.80 cm and highest leaf area of 15.21 cm² and highest leaf dry weight of 32.53 % , leaf nitrogen content of 1.29 %, leaf potassium content of 1.63 % and leaf iron content of 182.3 mg.kg^-1.