Flowering and corm production in gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) cv. “White Prosperity” as influenced by integrated nutrient management (INM)

The present investigation entitled, “Flowering and corm production in gladiolus as influenced by Integrated Nutrient Management on flowering and corm production in gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) cv. “White Prosperity” was conducted at Horticulture Research Center (HRC) of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut during Rabi season of 2012. The experiment laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The experiment consisted of ten treatments viz. T₁, [Control (without any application of fertilizer and manure)], T₂, [100%RDF,(NPK 300:200:200 kg/ha)], T₃, [75% RDF, (NPK 225:150:150 kg/ha) + 2 Tonnes of Vermicompost], T₄, [75% RDF, (NPK 225:150:150 kg/ha) + 2 Tonnes of Vermicompost + PSB, (2.5kg/ha)], T₅, [75% RDF, (NPK 225:150:150 kg/ha) + 2 Tonnes of Vermicompost + Azatobactor, (2.5kg/ha)],T6, [75% RDF, (NPK 225:150:150 kg/ha) + 2 Tonnes of Vermicompost + PSB, (2.5kg/ha) + Azatobactor, (2.5kg/ha)], T₇, [50% RDF, (NPK 150:100:100 kg/ha) + 2 Tonnes of Vermicompost], T₈, [50% RDF, (NPK 150:100:100 kg/ha) + 2 Tonnes of Vermicompost + PSB, (2.5kg/ha)], T₉, [50% RDF, (NPK 150:100:100 kg/ha) + 2 Tonnes of Vermicompost + Azatobactor, (2.5kg/ha)], T₁₀, [50% RDF, (NPK 150:100:100 kg/ha) + 2 Tonnes of Vermicompost + PSB, (2.5kg/ha) + Azatobactor, (2.5kg/ha)]. Among all treatments, treatment T₆ was found significantly to induced early flowering, days required for visibility of first spike, days required for opening of the first flower. However, the maximum number of spike per plant, diameter of flower, diameter of spike, number of spikes per plant, vase life of cut flower at room temperature and longevity of spike was also noted with the same treatment. As far as corm characters, the maximum number of corm per clump, diameter of corm, number of cormels per clump, weight of corm, weight of cormels per clump and yield of corm and cormels (q/ha) were also noted in the treatment T₆.