Quality Characteristics of Drip Irrigated Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. "Eilat") under Protected Conditions

The interest in cut flower cultivation is increasing gradually because of internal market demand, climate advantages of our country and increase on the production of cut flower for export in recent years. 52% of the total cut flower production in Turkey consists of carnation. This study aims to determine the effects of different irrigation levels on flowering and flower quality of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. "Eilat") grown in plastic greenhouse and irrigated by a drip irrigation system under Mediterranean (Antalya) conditions. In the study, two irrigation intervals (I-1: 10 mm pan evaporation and I-2: 20 mm pan evaporation) and four pan coefficient levels (K-1=0.60 Epan, K-2=0.90 Epan, K-3=1.20 Epan and K-4=1.50 Epan) were applied based on the amount of evaporation measured by a Class A pan located in the greenhouse. Additionally, the effects of different irrigation levels on flowering and flower quality of carnation were statistically analyzed. Results showed that high frequency irrigations using high pan coefficients increased flower stem length, flower stem diameter, stem weight, flower diameter, vase life and yield compared to low frequency irrigation with lower pan coefficients.