Effect of growing seasons, nitrogen and phosphorus on growth, flowering and spike production of lunaria (Lunaria biennis Linn.)

Seeds of Lunaria biennis Linn, were sown in the field during August (pre-winter) and April (post-winter) and transplanted in 1 m2 beds at 80 and 70 day, respectively, after sowing. Three levels of each nitrogen and phosphorus (i.e. 10, 20 and 30 g/m2) were applied in the field before planting. Post-winter sown plants significantly took less number of days (185) to flower and produced greater number of spikes (2.0) and seedpods (60.0)/plant as compared to pre-winter planting. Increasing doses of nitrogen and phosphorus significantly improved plant height, number of spikes and pods, however, flowering was delayed by about seven day at higher dose of nitrogen (30 g/m2).