Effect of N and P on growth and flowering of gladiolus

The experiment was carried out to study the effects of nitrogen (0, 20, 30, 40 g/m²) and phosphorus (10, 20, 30 g/m²) on growth, flowering and yield in gladiolus cv. Sylvia in RBD at C.S.A. University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur during 1998–99. Application of N₃₀ P₃₀ g/m² resulted into maximum plant height (86.65 cm), florets/spike (15.80), spike length (75.70 cm) and rachis length (50.45 cm). Leaf length (55.85 cm), leaf width (2.79 cm), floret length (8.95 cm), corms/plant (1.50) and cormel's weight/plant (54.30 g) were significantly influenced with application of N₄₀ P₂₀ g/m². However, corm size (6.16 cm), cormel's weight/plant (40.20 g), floret width (8.53 cm) and propagation coefficient (305.36%) were significantly maximum with higher doses of N₄₀ P₃₀ g/m². Earliest flowering (74.0 days) was recorded with N₂₀ P₃₀ g/m² doses. Durability of first floret (2.94 days) and whole spike (11.12 days) was significantly increased with N₃₀ P₃₀ g/m² while maximum vase life (8.10 days) was under N₂₀ P₃₀ g/m².