Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta, Bangalore 560 089
Significantly highest number of leaves per clump, length of spike and rachis, number of florets per spike and duration of flowering were obtained by planting of bulbs at 25 × 20 cm, apart and the treatments of 25 × 25m, 25 × 20 cm, 25 × 15 cm and 20 × 20 cm planting spacings were found to be at par with each other. The duration of flowering under field conditions was significantly decreased beyond 25 × 15 cm spacing. On the other hand, significantly higher number of days were taken for flowering and total yield of spikes per plot under close spacing (20 × 10 cm). However, the spacings of 25 × 10 cm and 20 × 10 cm were found to be at par with each other. However, plant height, diameter and length of floret and weight of floret individually per spike and per plot basis did not differ significantly due to different spacings. Thus, a bulb density of 50 plants/m2 (20 × 10 cm) could be conviniently followed for commercial cultivation of tuberose cv. Shringar.
