Efficacy of bio-and chemical fertilizerrs on certain floral qualities of gladiolus

An experiment on two gladiolus varieties viz. Jester and Sylvia with chemical and bio-fertilizers was conducted in Division of Floriculture and Landscaping, IARI, Pusa, New Delhi. Variety Jester performed significantly better over Sylvia for early flowering (116.16 days) higher floret diameter (8.37 cm), florets/spike (13.60), floret remaining open (5.86), days to last floret opening (128.05 days), enhanced vase life (8.34 days) and low disease incidence (9.07%) while variety Sylvia was found significantly better for more number of days to last floret opening (135.04 days). Application of full dose of NPK resulted into significant influence on delayed flowering floret diameter, florets remaining open, enhanced vase life and low disease incidence, While significant effect for days to last floret opening was recorded when there was no application of NPK. However, the effect of half dose of recommended NPK was found at par with that of full dose for days to flowering floret diameter and days to last floret opening. The combined inoculation of gladiolus corms with AZT+PSB was found best for days to flowering (114.59 days), first floret diameter (9.08 cm), florets remaining open (6.46) and days to last floret opening (128.90 days) among all the bio-fertilizer(s) treatments. Among interactive effects of varieties and chemical fertilizers, V₁C₂ was found best for low disease incidence (8.80%). Significant interactive effect between varieties and biofertilizers was recorded, as V₁T₂ showed low disease incidence (7.03%). Interactive effect of chemical and biofertilizers was also observed significant and C₂T₇ was found best for disease incidence (9.99%). However, interactive effect of varieties, chemical and biofertilizers was found significant for disease incidence (6.66%) under V₁C₂T₇.