Effect of nitrogen and potassium dihydrogen phosphate on the nutritional and metabolital status of plant and production of corms in gladiolus

The experiment was conducted to study the Impact of urea and potassium di-hydrogen phosphate applied through foliar sprays on the chlorophyll content, nutritional status of plant and the production of corms and cormels in gladiolus variety ‘Friendship’. Foliar sprays of 3% urea increased chlorophyll ‘a’ content of leaves by 13.6%. Similarly KH₂P0₄ caused an increase of 17 and 40% in chlorophyll ‘a’ and ‘b’ content, respectively. Regarding N content 3% urea cau~ed maximum increase being 41.27 and 30.7% during first and second years of trial over control. KH₂PO₄ at 0.75% reduced leaf N by 2–4 per cent over control. Phosphorus content was not affected by foliar treatment of N. KH₂PO₄ 0.75% resulted in the maximum Increase showing 25% and 21.3% increase, respectively. K content due to urea spray over control varied from 0.38% to 12.54% in first and 1.53 to 4.5% in the second year while KH₂PO₄ Increased 11.14 to 23.56% and 9 to 22.6% during respective years. Foliar sprays of urea at 3% increased corm production by 39% and 51%, respectively during first and second year while 0.75% KH₂PO₄ maximized the production expressing 45% and 49% Increase. Foliar treatment of urea at 2 and 3% increased the weight of corms by about 13.5% Whereas KH₂PO₄ applied in 0.75% increased it by 17.5% during first year. Urea at 3% recorded 17% weight while 0.75% KH₂PO₄ caused 23% In weight during second year. 3% urea increased number of cormels by 37.6 and 35.3%, respectively 0.75 per cent KH₂PO₄ improved number of cormels by 38.8 and 36.6% during first and second years, respectively whereas 20.9 and 19.0% weight of corm increased by 2 and 3% and 19.0% weight of corm Increased by 2 and 3% urea-In first and second year of study. The weight of cormels maximized as 0.75% KH₂P_O4 (29.4 and 25.8%) In respective years.