Response of pre-harvest Micronutrient Foliar Spray on Leaf Nutrients and Corm Production in Gladiolus

The experiment comprised 16 treatment combinations with four levels each of FeSo₄ (0%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1%) and ZnSo₄ (0%, 0.25%, 0.5% and 0.75%) sprayed at 3rd and 6th leaf stage of the gladiolus cv. Trader Horn crop. The foliar feeding of FeSo₄ at 0.5% concentration significantly influenced iron content in the leaves, while the leaf zinc content was least influenced by spraying of FeSo₄. Significantly enhanced zinc content in the leaves was recorded by spraying with ZnSo₄ at 0.5% concentration. The combined spray of FeSo₄ and ZnSo₄ at varied concentrations was though significant, inconsistent trends of the leaf nutrient accumulation were noticed. Foliar spray of FeSo₄, at 0.75% concentration significantly enhanced the cormel weight. The effect of ZnSo₄ alone or its combination with FeSo₄ had non-significant effect on corm and cormel production parameters.