Sequential Spray of Vermiwash at Critical Stages Influences Growth and Quality in Gladiolus cv. White Prosperity

The present investigation was carried out at model Floriculture Centre of Gobind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar during the year 2010–11. The experiment was based on the evaluation of vegetative, floral and corm yield characters of gladiolus as affected by different bio-fertilizers i.e VAM, vermicompost and vermiwash. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with nine treatments and replicated thrice. Vermicompost, Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) and chemical fertilizers were applied at the time of planting, while vermiwash was sprayed twice, at 3-leaves stage and 6- leaves stage. The findings revealed that the application of all these three bio-fertilizers in combination was proved to enhance plant height and number of leaves (56.29 cm and 6.14 days at 45 days after bud emergence), spike length and rachis (90.68 cm and 47.07 cm), number of florets (15.08), vase life (10.02 day) number of corm per m² (28.66), weight of corms (50.68 g) and number of cormels per plant (56.66). Same treatment was also effective to reduce the number of days taken to spike emergence (81.73 day). Although, fresh and dry weight of spike (75.82 g and 23.21g) and diameter of corms (5.95 cm) were recorded with application of VAM along with vermicompost.