Response of gladiolus to different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus on growth, spike and corm production in calcareous soil

Field experiments were conducted on gladiolus at R.A.U., Pusa in calcareous soil of north Bihar to study the efficacy of nitrogen and phosphorus. Nitrogen @ 20,30,40 and 50 g/m² and phosphorus @ 10.20 and 30 g/m² were applied in the soil. Nitrogen @ 40 g/m² significantly gave better result in increasing the plant height, spike and rachis length, number of florets/spike, diameter of corms and number of corms/cormels per hill however, phosphorus marked significant effect only on number of florets, corms and cormels and corm diameter. NxP combination did not mark any effect on plant height, length of rachis and number of florets but gave significant effect on length of spike, diameter of corm and number of corms and cormels. Maximum spike length and corm diameter was observed with N₃P₂ treatment combination, however, maximum number of corms and cormels/hill was record with N₂P₃.