Effect of Inorganic Fertilizers in Combination with Bio-fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa)

The study was carried out to evaluate the influence of bio-fertilizers on growth and flowering of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cv. Mexican single at different levels of inorganic fertilizers. The bio-fertilizers were applied once at the time of planting using bulb dip method for half an hour followed by shade drying before planting. The experiment was carried out in randomized block design with three replications. All the bio-fertilizers significantly improved different vegetative and floral characters as compared to control. Vegetative growth such as plant height, number of leaves, length and width of leaves were enhanced most effectively by Azotobacter treatment. However, for quantitative and qualitative spike production PSB was found more effective. The experimental results revealed significant variations among the treatments in respect of vegetative characters, e g plant height, number of leaves per plant, length and width of leaves and floral characters like number of spike per plant, number of florets per spike, length of spike, length of rachis, days require for first flowering, first floral spike to emerge and fifty percent flowering, flowering duration and vase life of spike. Growth in vegetative parameters was observed maximum in T₂ and T₄ than the others. While the floral parameters were found superior in T₇ and T₄. These experimental results revealed that the vegetative and floral characters of tuberose could be modified by the application of bio-fertilizers along with reducing level of inorganic fertilizers. This suggests that T₇ was economically beneficial, because it save 25 percent inorganic fertilizers.