Pre-harvest management in carnation to enhance flower yield

An experiment was carried out to study the effect of pre-harvest management in carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L) cv Malaga to improve the flower yield, quality and vase life by the foliar application of biostimulants. In the preharvest treatments, Panchagavya @ 2 per cent + Manchurian mushroom tea 4 per cent with RDF (NPK 19:19:19 @ 8 g, calcium nitrate 1.5 g, potassium nitrate 1.0 g, monopotassium phosphate 1.5 g, borax 0.5 g, magnesium sulphate 2.5 g) proved superior in respect of flower yield parameters viz lesser days taken to bud opening (157.8), maximum flower diameter (6.54 cm), highest stem length (84.90 cm), maximum number of petals per flower (73.83), maximum number of flowers per plant (11.53), maximum number of flowers per m² (415.20) and longest duration of flowering (80.87 days). This treatment also resulted in lowest disease incidence (2.42%).