HOSAKA, Hachiro

Variation in quality and yield of cut flowers with spring-sown China aster in relation to various spacings was analyzed. The balancing (proportional) relationship between leaves and flowers was considered to be one of the most important factors in cut flower quality and the yield of cut flowers must be the higher production of the well-balancing cut flowers per unit area. China aster, variety Otaki, sown on May 6, was grown in single and double rows and bed with various spacing combinations. Individual quality determinants such as plant height, size and number of leaves, stem diameter, plant and flower stem weight and size and number of blooms were smaller in wide and close spacings than intermediate one. This depressed growth of plants in wide spacing distance was thought to be responsible for the higher soil temperature (40-50℃) in the row, naturally bringing about moisture deficiency in the soil during growth and in denser planting plots the competition among the neighboring individuals for water, nutrients and light. Percentage of flowering in a week after it started was higher in wider spacings. Balancing (proportional, relative or correlative) quality determinants as percentage of flower stem length to plant height, leaf weight/flower stem weight (L/F ratio) and comparison of regression formula between leaf weight and flower stems were determined. These values which determine the balancing quality were larger in wider spacings suggesting advantageous results for the cut flower. As yield determinants in cut flower production, uniformity of cut flowers per plot examining with frequency distribution and coefficient of variation, total weight of leaf stem or flower stem per unit area, coverage of a plant and percentage of land area used by total plants per plot were examined. Uniformity of cut flowers in wide and close spacings was superior to that produced in the intermediate one. Total leaf stem and flower stem yield per plot and percenetage of land use increased markedly with increasing the planting densit