Impact of spacing, doses of vermi-compost and foliar application of salicylic acid on growth and flowering of gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) cv. “White prosperity”

A field experiment was conducted during the year 2008–2009 to study the effect of spacing (20x10, 20x20 and 20x30), dose of vermicompost (0, 1.0 and 2.0 ton/ha) and foliar application of salicylic acid(0, 50 and 100 ppm) on the growth and flowering of gladiolus. Significant improvement in growth and flowering characters was recorded with the corm planted at wider spacing (20x20) over those grown at closer spacing (20x10 and 20x20). Gradual increase in the dose of vermicompost for 0 to 2.0 tone/ha significantly improved plant growth and flowering quality. Higher concentration of salicylic acid (100 ppm) significantly notably produced good plant growth and flower yield but also induced early flowering during the course of study.