Effect of biostimulants on yield and post harvest quality of gladiolus cv. WHITE PROSPERITY

Abstract

The investigations on gladiolus cv. WHITE PROSPERITY were carried out at the\rHorticultural Research Station Yercaud, Salem district, during 2009-2010 to find out the effect of\rbiostimulants on gladiolus with reference to growth, yield and post harvest quality attributes.\rThe experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design consisted of three biostimulants viz.,\rhumic acid, Panchagavya, vermiwash and combinations comprising of seven treatments. Various\rgrowth characters were recorded at 15 days interval after planting. The yield components were\rrecorded after spike emergence. The post harvest quality attributes were analysed after harvest.\rThe physiological characters were also studied from 45 days after planting. The study revealed\rthat, gladiolus showed better response to the foliar application of 0.2 per cent humic acid\rsignificantly. All the morphological parameters exhibited positive and better response in humic\racid treatment compared to other biostimulants and its combination. The economic traits were\rpositively influenced by humic acid application. Foliar application of 0.2 per cent humic acid led\rto early spike emergence (46.46 days) than control (55.33 days). The highest spike length,\rrachis length and number of floret per spike were higher in foliar application of 0.2 per cent\rhumic acid. This also increased the yield of spike per plant and per square meter with regard to\rthe post harvest quality characters, longevity of cut spike in tap water and in 2 per cent sucrose\rwere greatly influenced by the same treatment. Foliar application of 0.2 per cent humic acid\rincreased corm weight, corm diameter and number of cormels.