Effect of integrated nutrient management on vegetative growth and flowering characters of gladiolus

An investigation was carried out to study the combined effect of integrated nutrient management on vegetative growth and flowering characters of gladiolus cv. Snow Princess with the application of Azospirillum, PSB, vermicompost and FYM with and without 100, 75 and 50% recommended dose of NPK. The results showed that plant height was maximum with application of 75% RDF + 20 t ha⁻¹ FYM, while number of florets remaining open at a time was recorded maximum under 100% RDF + FYM, 20 tonnes/ha. Days to first floret opening and number of days for 50% plant to sprout were earliest under treatments 75% RDF + FYM,10 tonnes/ha + vermicompost, 10 tonnes/ha and vermicompost, 20 tonnes/ha, respectively. The application of 20 t ha⁻¹ FYM produced maximum number of leaves. The components like diameter of 3^rd florets, length of rachis, fresh weight of plant and vaselife of spike in tap water were maximum with 50% RDF (60: 40: 40 kg/ha NPK) + 10 tonnes/ha each of FYM and vermicompost; whereas days to first floret opening was minimum with 75% RDF (90:60:60 kg/ha NPK) + 10 tonnes/ha each of FYM and vermicompost. Application of integrated nutrients, i.e. 50% RDF (60:40:40 kg/ha NPK) + 10 tonnes/ha each of FYM and vermicompost + 2 g/plant each of Azospirillum and PSB produced significantly maximum length of spike, number of florets per spike, duration of flowering and yield of corms. The dry weight of plant was found maximum with the application of 75% RDF + 10 tonnes/ha each of FYM and vermicompost + 2 g/plant each of Azospirillum and PSB.