Effect of soil type on pyrethrum seed germination

Abstract

Pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Trevir.) Sch. Bip.) is an autochthonous insecticidal plant from Dalmatia (Croatia). It is commercially grown worldwide with a particularly fast expansion in Africa and Australia (Tasmania) and used as a natural insecticide. The study was conducted in Istria, Croatia, in a greenhouse, to determine the effect of soil type on the germination of pyrethrum seeds. The effect of different soil types on the germination of pyrethrum was found to be highly significant. The highest percentage of germination was found on white clay loam (soil type 2), and the lowest on red clay Terra Rossa (soil types 1 and 6). Seed germination was greatly influenced by soil texture, foremost silt percentage, and soil pH. The present study suggests that pyrethrum seed germination is best on slightly alkaline clayey loams with moderate nutrients. Positive correlation was confirmed among germination percentage and silt content and soil pH.

Keywords

• Croatia
• germination
• pyrethrum
• soil characteristics
• Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Trevir.) Sch. Bip.