Influence of integrated nutrient management on flowering, corm productivity and economic performance of gladiolus

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted at the research farm of the Division of Floriculture and Landscaping, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi during 2016 to study the integrated nutrient management practices using two gladiolus varieties such as Jyotsna and Pusa Red Valentine in split plot design with three replications and twelve treatment combinations. The data indicate that minimum days to first flowering was recorded in treatment T6(100% RDF + FYM 5 t/ha) in which average mean of both the varieties observed as 88.83 day, while it was recorded maximum 94.16 day under treatment T10 (75% RDF + vermicompost @ 10 t/ha + Azospirillum+ PSB). The results also indicated that among the varieties Pusa Red Valentine has recorded maximum plant height (151.00 cm) and rachis length (137.00 cm) as compared to Jyotsna (129.00 and 117.66 cm) respectively. But, out of the twelve INM treatments, T11 i.e. (75% RDF + 5 tonnes/ha FYM + 5tonnes/ha Vermicompost + Azospirillum + PSB treated plot has recorded maximum average plant height (140 cm) and spike length (127.33 cm) as compared to control treatment (76.16 and 65.66 cm) respectively; however, rachis length was recorded maximum (60.83 cm) under treatment T6 i.e. 100% RDF + 5 tonnes/ha FYM. Treatment T7 i.e. (100% RDF + vermicompost @5 t/ha) had recorded maximum number of florets 19.33 in variety Pusa Red Valentine whereas, it was maximum (18.66) in variety Jyotsna under treatment T12 i.e. 50% RDF + 5 tonnes/ha FYM + 5 tonnes/ha Vermicompost + liquid NPK as compared to control. The INM treatment T7 i.e. (100% RDF + vermicompost @ 5 t/ha) had produced 4.150 lakh/ha number of corms in variety Jyotsna, whereas, it was 3.408 lakh/ha corms in variety Pusa Red Valentine under treatment T5 i.e (vermicompost @ 10 t/ha). The estimated total gross and net income was also recorded by treatment T7 i.e. Rs.7.466 and Rs.4.302 lakh/ha, respectively.