Effect of Spacing, Nitrogen and Phosphorus on Growth, Flowering and Yield of Heliconia cv. Golden Torch under Nethouse

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken under net house conditions with an objective to study the effect of spacing, nitrogen and phosphorous on growth, flowering and yield of heliconia cv. Golden Torch at Floriculture Research Scheme, ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, NAU, Navsari, Gujarat, India during the year 2007-08.The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with Factorial concept (FRBD) with three replications and twenty-four treatment combinations, comprising of two levels of spacing (S 1 =50 x 40 cm and S 2 =75 x 40 cm), four levels of nitrogen (N o =00, N 1 =100, N 2 =200 and N 3 =300 kg N/ha) and three levels of phosphorus (P o =00, P 1 =50 and P 2 =100 kg P 2 O 5 /ha). The potassium @ 100 kg/ha and FYM @ 5 kg/m 2 were applied as a common dose. The collected data was analysed by adopting ‘Analysis of Variance’ technique and the experimental results revealed that, among spacing treatments, planting of heliconia at a spacing of 50 x 40 cm (S 1 ) enhanced growth, yield and quality parameters as compared to those planted at 75 x 40 cm (S 2 ). Whereas, in case of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers, application of 300 kg N/ha and 100 kg P 2 O 5 /ha, respectively were found to significantly increased the growth, yield and quality parameters as compared to other levels. Among the different interactions, the significant effect of S x N interaction for number of suckers per clump at 9 MAP, number of flowers per clump and flower yield per hectare was obtained with the treatment combination of S 1 N 3 . Similarly, S x P interaction was found significant for number of flowers per hectare which were higher under S 1 P 2 . Likewise, the significant effect of N x P interaction was also obtained for number of suckers per clump, number of bracts per flower and flower yield per hectare with better shelf life with the treatment combination of N 3 P 2 . Hence it can be concluded that, for obtaining higher yield and flower quality,heliconia cv. Golden Torch should be planted at 50 x 40 cm spacing and fertilize with 300:100:100 kgNPK per hectare.