Greenhouse Plant Production Journal
Quarterly

Effects of foliar and fertigation based calcium nitrate applications on growth, flower quality, and postharvest physiology of roses in a soilless system

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Mahmoud Salemi 1
Saeed Khosravi 2
Leyla Cheheltanan 2
Ali Tehranifar 3
Heliya Khezri 2
Hossein Javadolmotaghin 2
Hasan Heydari 2
Vahid Ajami 2

1 Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

2 Department of Horticultural Science and Landscape, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.

3 Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Faculty of Agriculture.

https://doi.org/10.61882/gppj.2.4.65
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of foliar and fertigation-based calcium nitrate applications on growth, flower quality, and postharvest physiology of two Rosa hybrida cultivars (‘Samurai’ and ‘Jumilia’) grown in a soilless system. Treatments included a control (10% of the recommended Ca level), foliar spraying, and fertigation, arranged in a factorial design with four replications. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse at the Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University, Mashhad, Iran. Results revealed that root morphological characteristics such as length and volume were maximized in the ‘Jumilia’ cultivar when calcium nitrate was supplied via fertigation. Conversely, foliar spraying with calcium nitrate markedly improved shoot and floral characteristics. Compared to the control, foliar calcium nitrate increased flower diameter by 15.4%, enhanced hip length by 14.25 cm, and increased hip diameter in the ‘Samurai’ cultivar by 18.76%. Moreover, foliar application of calcium nitrate extended the vase life of cut roses to about 10 days by preserving higher relative fresh weight. Antioxidant enzyme activities were also enhanced under foliar treatment in the ‘Samurai’ cultivar, with superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POD) increasing by 53.84%, 75.71%, and 97.28%, respectively. Additionally, foliar-sprayed ‘Samurai’ plants showed nearly double calcium accumulation in leaves and petals. Interestingly, in the ‘Jumilia’ cultivar, foliar application reduced leaf zinc content by 68.87%, while simultaneously enhancing leaf magnesium concentration by 64.16%. Overall, foliar supplementation with calcium nitrate proved to be a practical strategy for improving flower quality, enhancing antioxidant defense, and prolonging vase life of roses in soilless culture.

Keywords

Antioxidant enzyme activity
Calcium
Greening index
Mineral elements
Vase life
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Greenhouse Plant Production Journal
Volume 2, Issue 4
Autumn 2025
Pages 65-80

  • Receive Date 10 October 2025
  • Revise Date 15 November 2025
  • Accept Date 10 December 2025
  • First Publish Date 10 December 2025
  • Publish Date 01 December 2025

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