Sequential Spray of Vermiwash at Critical Stages Influences Growth and Quality in Gladiolus cv. White Prosperity

The present investigation was carried out at model Floriculture Centre of Gobind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, during 2010–11. The experiment was based on evaluation of vegetative, floral and corm yield characters of gladiolus as affected by different biofertilizers, i.e VAM, vermicompost and vermiwash. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with nine treatments replicated thrice. Vermicompost, vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) and chemical fertilizers were applied at the time of planting, while vermiwash was sprayed twice, at 3-leaves stage and 6- leaves stage. The results revealed that the application of all these three bio fertilizers in combination to enhanced, plant height and number of leaves (56.29 cm and 6.14 days at 45 days after bud emergence), spike length and rachis (90.68 cm and 47.07 cm), number of florets (15.08), vase-life (10.02 day) number of corms/m² (28.66), weight of corms (50.68 g) and number of cormels/plant (56.66). Same treatment was also effective to reduce number of days taken to spike emergence (81.73 day). Although, fresh and dry weight of spike (75.82 g and 23.21 g) and diameter of corms (5.95 cm) were recorded with application of VAM along with vermicompost.