Comparison of Foliar Spray and Side Dressing of Potassium on Growth, Flowering, Productions of Corms in Gladiolus cv. Yellow Stone

Abstract

Potassium is a macro nutrients that play a key role in development and growth of plants. Therefore, the present study was planned to test the effects of potassium on Gladiolus by different treatment methods, and to find out which method is more promising. The corms of Gladiolus hybrid cv. yellow stone was used for plantation. Experiment was carried out in complete randomized design (CRD) with four replications and three fertilizer treatments (control, 2g/pot with side dressing, 2g/ pot with foliar spray). Results revealed that foliar spray of potassium enhanced most of parameters i.e. length of stalk, fresh weight of stalk, dry weight of stalk, number of florets per plant, diameter of stalk, fresh and dry weight of leaves, number of leaves significantly at P<0.01 more than side dressing. Although side dressing of potassium also increased the plant growth to some extent more than control, however, number of cormels per plant was decreased. Therefore, it can be concluded that application of potassium by foliar spray is more effective in increasing the growth and flowering of Gladiolus than side dressing.