Influence of farm yard manure, nitrogen and shade levels on vase life of boston fern [Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott]

Different shade levels significantly influenced keeping quality of the fronds of Boston fern [Nephrolepis exaltata (L.) Schott]. The longest vase life was observed in the fronds harvested from plants grown under 75% shade (23.05 days) in comparison to plants grown under 50% shade (15.23 days). The plants grown under open field conditions exhibited the minimum vase life (14.66 days). Farm yard manure (FYM) and N, individually did not improve the vase life of fronds but in combination improved the same. Vase life was significantly higher with 50 t of FYM + 250 Kg N ha⁻¹yr⁻¹ treatment (19.92 days) than the control (16.53 days). Maximum average vase life was observed in the fronds harvested from the plants grown with 25 t of FYM + 250 Kg N ha⁻¹yr⁻¹ under 75% shade (25.84 days).