1Division of Floriculture & Landscaping, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012.
2Division of Fruits and Hort. Tech., IARI, New Delhi 110 012.
*Corresponding author's present address: Division of Horticulture, ICAR Complex for NEH Region, Barapani, Meghalaya; E-mail: flori_rajiv@yahoo.co.in
The influence of different doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on gladiolus cv. Jester Gold was studied in a field trial conducted by factorial randomized block design. The effect of nitrogen (20, 40, 60, 80 g/m2) with phosphorus (5, 10, 20 g/m2) and potassium (15, 20, 25 g/m2) and control applied to the plants on post-harvest life of cut gladiolus spikes were studied under laboratory conditions. Longevity of first floret was increased by application of N80P5 g/m2. A dose N60K20 and N80P10 g/m2 was producing bigger first and third fully opened floret, respectively. Application of N80K20 g/m2 resulted into maximum fully opened florets and total florets/spike in the vase. Effective useful life, vase-life, water uptake on third day and at senescence in the vase was increased by the use of N60P20g/m2. A fertilizer dose of N80P20 g/m2 resulted into maximum increment of spike length at senescence, fresh weight of spike at harvest, at third and fifth day in the vase.
Gladiolus, fertilizer application, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, vase-life
