Response of graded levels of NPK on yield and quality of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa Linn.) cultivar Single

Minimum number of days taken to emergence of spike (96.80 days) was recorded for the treatment T₅ and the same treatment also induced early flowering (97.60 days). The maximum number of spikes/m² (17.86 in plant crop and 19.71 in ratoon crop) along with the highest spike yield of 692.86 g/m² in the plant crop and 638.57 g/m² in ratoon crop were exhibited by T4 treatment. The maximum spike (106.35 cm) and rachis (35.27 cm) length were observed for the treatment T₃ in the plant crop and in case of ratoon crop treatment T₄ recorded the maximum spike (84.11 cm) and rachis (30.78 cm) length. On the other hand, maximum number of florets/spike (34.94 in plant crop and 29.06 in ratoon crops) and size of floret (3.88 cm in plant and 3.50 cm in ratoon crops), maximum blooming period of 22.26 days (plant crop) and 21.07 days (ratoon crop) and vase life of 17.47 days (plant crop) and 16.00 days (ratoon crop) were recorded for the treatment T₄. The best performance in terms of bulb production was exhibited by treatment T₅, which recorded maximum weight of clump (367.63 g) and maximum number of large (8.74) and medium (10.20) sized bulbs. The treatment T₇ produced highest number of small sized bulbs (10.50).