Abstract

This experiment was conducted at the Institute of National Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Iran to evaluate the effect of different amount of fertilizers on the leaf and plant characteristics, as well as the yield characteristics of Aloe vera. There were 6 different treatments viz., T₁ = 100% soil (control), T₂ = 100 PK (50% P + 50% K), T₃ = 50% K + 50% soil, T₄ = 50% N + 50% soil, T₅ = 150% NPK (50% N + 50% P + 50% K), T₆ = 50% P + 50% soil. It was observed that the plant produced the highest mature leaf length and number of tillers plant^-1 and maximum leaf weight as well as maximum weight of largest leaves with the application of 50% P + 50% K (T₂). Different plant characters such as mature leaf breadth and breadth of the largest leaf was also found to be high with T₅ treatment when compared withthe control (100% soil). The number of leaves was also significantly affected by different fertilizer treatments where the maximum effect was noticed at early stages with T₄ (50% N). It was revealed that T₃ had a little effect on the number of leaves ofA. vera over chemical fertilizer.

Key words: Aloe vera, fertilizer, morphological traits, leaf growth.