Effect of gravity-fed drip irrigation and nitrogen management on flowering quality, yield, water and nutrient dynamics of gladiolus in an Indian inceptisol

Abstract

Gladiolus is a promising flower crop during winter season and its popularity is growing fast due to its higher price in the market. However, the productivity and quality of the crop in resource-scarce region are constrained by improper irrigation and nitrogen management practices. Based on this presumption, the current study has been developed with the precise objectives of examining the effect of gravity-fed drip irrigation scheduling coupled with integrated nitrogen management on growth, yield, water productivity and macronutrients distribution in soil and plant system of gladiolus. The field experiment accommodating four irrigation levels (surface irrigation I1, and gravity drip irrigation at 1.0, 0.8 and 0.6 (I2, I3 and I4) of pan evaporation replenishment) and three levels of nitrogen management (100% recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN) as vermicompost, 50% RDN as vermicompost + 50% RDN as fertilizer and 100% RDN as fertilizer, respectively N1, N2 and N3) was conducted during three consecutive rabi seasons on gladiolus. I2N2 furnished highest spike/plot (72.9), florets/spike (10.6), longest spike length (66.7 cm), greatest spike weight (43.0 g) and maximum spike yield (10458 kg ha−1) which were at par with I2N2. Highest crop water productivity (CWP) of 9.06 kg m−3 was accomplished in I4N2 followed by I3N2 (8.84 kg m−3). Drip irrigation, on average, could save water by 20.6% for I2, 36.6% for I3 and 52.4% for I4 and improve CWP by 50.2% for I2, 65.2% for I3 and 65.2% for I4 as compared with I1. Two predictive models were developed based on flower yield vs. I and ETa. Ky for total growing season was estimated at 0.66 (R2= 0.91). Maximum soil water storage was accumulated in the surface layer and well distributed down the layers underneath in drip irrigation system, while the reverse trend was noticed in the surface irrigation. Higher availability of soil N and leaf N concentrations were obtained with I2N2 and I3N2 and lower with I1N1. Based on maximum spike yield, water productivity, substantial water saving and N economy, I2N2 and I3N2 emerged superior for the selected inceptisol.