; 4 nsibiiladaseitnibaiead _ The @rissa Journal of Horticuture, Vol. 36 (1) 2008 A SHORT NOTE ON EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LEVELS OF NITROGEN AND PHOSPHORUS ON CORM AND CORMEL PRODUCTION IN GLADIOLUS CV AMERICAN BEAUTY IN PLATEAU REGION OF “JHARKHAND Jharkhand with its diverse agro-cimatic conditions have great potential for flower cultivation. Gladiolus is one of the most important bulbous flower crops for both domestic and international markets. Its long attractive spikes with variety of colours, prolonged vase life and its ability to withstand long distance transport got attributes itself as the queen of bulbous plants. Commercial cultivation of gladiolus is gaining popularity due toexport potential and prevalence of congenial growing condition in various parts of the country. Productiveness of any plant depends (on soil type, growing habit of specific cultivar, pure seed, plant population per unit area, application of manures / fertilizers in previous ‘crop and method of fertilizer application as well ‘as the meteorological concitions. It is @ well known fact that for successful production of any bulbous crop, application of manures and fertiizers are considered as important inputs. The response of various doses of nutrient has been observed variable in different varieties. Hence, it was felt necessary to optimize the doses of nutrients for successful cultivation of gladiolus as well as production of planting materials for further use. ‘The experiment was conducted during February o July, 2001 at Horticulture Research Section of the University. The soil of the experimental plot was sandy loam having sand 58%, silt 30% and clay 12%, water holding capacity 29%, pH 5.6, organic carbon 0.38%, total nitrogen 685 kg ha", available nitrogen 210 kg ha’, available phosphate 30.77 kg ha’ and available potash 154 kg ha". The ‘experiment was laid out in Factorial RBD three replications. The treatments consisted of four levels of nitrogen (N,, N,, N 2nd N, i.e. ‘50, 100, 150 and 200 kg ha’, respectively) and three levels of phosphorus (P,, P, and P, i.e. [128] 28, 50 and 75 kg ha’, respectively). There were total 13 treatment combinations including Control (no use of nitrogen and phosphorus). Potassium and farmyard manure were used uniformly @ 50 kg ha" and 400 q ha", respectively. The corms lifted from each of the randomly selected tagged plants were counted and their average was recorded. The weight of each selected corm was recorded in gram and their mean value was calculated. The cormels lifted from each of the randomly selected tagged plants were counted and their average was recorded. Cormels obtained from each mother corm of the tagged plants were weighed and recorded in gram and the average was caloulated. The data so obtained were analyzed statistically as suggested by Gomez and Gomez (1984) Number and Weight of Corms The N, and N, level of nitrogen recorded significantly maximum number of corms in gladiolus piant over rest of the nitrogen levels (Table 1). The influence of different phosphorus levels was found to be non-significant in this respect. On the other hand the interaction of N and P showed significant influence on this parameter. Among the treatment combinations the N,P, produced significantly maximum number of corms (2,30) which was at par with N,P,. N,P,, NP, and N,P,. The weight of individual corm varied between 26.60 g and 35.62.gwith the variation in nitrogen application (Table 2). The maximum corm weight (35.62 ¢) was recorded with the treatment N,, which was significantly superior to rest of the N levels. ‘The treatment P, gave maximum weight of corm (31.06 9) butthe effect of P was non-significant Among the treatment combinations, the N,P, resulted in maximum corm weight (38.02 3) which was significantly superior to rest of3 ' The Orissa Journal of Horticulture, Vol. 36 (1) 2008 ‘combinations except N,P, (34.80 g). Hence, it was evident from the result that nitrogen 150 kg in combination with phosphorus 50 kg ha"! was optimum for corm production in terms of ‘weight and number. Similar findings have been reported by Bhattarcharjee (1981) and Potti(1985). ‘Number and Weight of Cormels The nitrogen levels had significant influence on number of cormels per plant in Sladiolus (Table 3). The N, level of nitrogen Produced maximum number of cormels (15.21) followed by N, (14.21) without showing any significant variation. The non-significant effect of phosphorus levels and N x P interaction on number of cormels was noticed. The weight of cormels ranged between 14.59 g and 20.40 g with different levels of nitrogen (Table 4). The maximum weight of cormels (20.40 9) was recorded with N, treatment. The different phosphorus levels also showed a significant influence on weight of cormels. The maximum weight of cormeis was found at P, level (20.27 g) followed by P, (18.10g) and both were at par with each other. The N x P interaction showed its significant influence on weight of cormels. The maximum weight of cormels was recorded with the treatment combination N,P, (23.80 g) cidsely followed byN,P, and N,P, without showing significant variation. The interaction effect showed that nitrogen at 150 kg and phosphorus at ‘50 kg ha” produced the cormels with maximum weight and number. The results are in ‘agreement with Jobn et al (1997). Table 1. Number of corms per plant as affected by various levels of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). 5 Tevels Nlevels eo NERR Ss sR pe Mean Ny 1.60 1.55 1.95 1.70 Na 1.90 2.10 1.80 1.93 Ny 2.10 2.30 1.65 2.01 Ne 2.10 1.85 2.10 2.01 Mean 4.92 1,95 1.87 41.91 S.E(m)+ CD ats % Control 1.75 N 0.04 0.13 " 0.03 NS NxP 0.07 0.23 NS - Not significant Table 2. Weight of corms (g) of gladiolus as affected by various levels of ritrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). P levels Nievels Se een ™ 723.46 23.49 6.60 Ne 26.00 29.40 28.50 Ny 34.80 29.73 32.18 Ne 34.00 (38.02 35.62 Mean 31.06 30.07 30.72 CO at 5 % Control 24.60 N 1.86 P NS NxP 3. 3.23 NS = Not significant (129)Table 3. Number of cormels per plant as ad The Orissa Journal of Horticulture, Vol. 36(1) 2008 affected by various levels of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) sea lev Nievels F; Py a Mean Ny 8.40 11.75 11.60 10.58 Ne 13.60 10.96 14.30 12.95 Na 14.60 16.40 14.65 15.21 Ne 13.10 14.10 16.35 14.48 Mean 1242 13.30 14.22 13:31 SEE Dats % Controt 980 N 0.66 2.04 P 0.57 NS NxP 444 NS NS = Not significant Table 4. Weight of cormels (g) of gladiolus as affected by levels of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Nieves Eigvels é Mean Be a ws 72.10 16.17 15.82 7450 16.36 14.31 23.06 17.89 18.14 23.80 19.31 20.40 16.41 18.12 23.26 19.26 15.74 48.10 20.27 18.03. ‘S.E(m) + Cats % Control 14.70 N 0.87 2.09 e 0.58 1.81 NxP 437 3.62 ‘The result of the experiment clearly indicate that application of higher dose of nitrogen (150 kg ha’) and medium dose of phosphorus (50 kg ha") proved best for production of higher yield of corms and cormels in gladiolus cy American Beauty. REFERENCES: Gomez, K.A. and A.A. Gomez (1984). Statistical Procedure for Agricultural Research, John Wiley and Sons, Singapore. John, A.Q., MA.A. Siddique and T.M. Paul (1997). Nutritional studies in Gladiolus 1. Growth and floral characters. Advances in Plant Science. 10 (1):45-49. Bhattarcharjee, S.K. (1981). influence of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilization on flowering and corm production in gladiolus. Singapore Journal of Primary Industries 9 (1):23-27. Poti, S.K. (1985) Nutritional studies in gladiolus cv Sylvia. M. Sc. Thesis submitted to Punjab Agricuitursi University, 1K JHA, AMRIT KUMAR JHA", RAKESH RANJAN "AND MUKESH KUMAR Department of Horticulture. Facuity of Agrcutun Birsa Agricultural University, Kank, Ranchi - 834 006 * Kishi. Vigyan Kendra, Birsa Agricultural Univesity, Sahibganj, Jnarknand-816 108 [130]