Proceedings of the 4th SAS-N Convention 4-6 April, 2012

Effect of Plant Spacing on the Yield and Quality of Flower, Corm and
Cormel of Gladiolus cv. Jester

Sharmila Piya, Ajaya S. R. Bajracharya and Jawahar L. Mandal

Agriculture Research Station, NARC, Pakhribas, Dhankuta

ABSTRACT

Gladiolus is the most important cut flower among the bulbous flower, being commercially
grown in Nepal. Plant spacing is one of the most important agronomic factors that affect the
vegetative growth, yield and quality of flower, corm and cormels. In order to find the
optimum plant spacing of gladiolus cv. Jester for mid hills of Nepal, experiments were
conducted for two consecutive years 2006 and 2007 at Agriculture Research Station,
Pakhribas. There were eight plant spacing as treatment, 20x15, 20x20, 20x25, 20x30, 30x15,
30x20, 30x25 and 30x30 cm with three replications. The experiment was laid out in
randomized complete block design. The results showed that earliest spike harvesting days
(75.37 d in 2006 and 90.07 d in 2007) in spacing 30x30 cm. First pair of flower opening after
spike emergence was found earliest (14.83) from 30x25 cm in 2006 while in 14.57 days in
2007 from 30x30 cm. Largest flower size (10.902 cm) was recorded from 30x30 cm spacing
in 2006 and 10.083 cm from 20x30 cm in 2007. In 2006, greater number of florets per spike
(18.83) was recorded from 20x30 cm and in 2007 it was insignificant. Similarly, longest spike
(104.60 cm and 101.90 cm) was found from 30x30 cm spacing in both 2006 and 2007,
respectively. In case of average weight of daughter corm 20x30 cm produced maximum in
2006 while in 2007 it was found from 30x30 cm. Same result obtained for corm size, 20x30
cm gave largest corm in 2006 and by 30x30 in 2007. Finally, higher daughter corm yield
(29746 kg/ha in 2006 and 17179 kg/ha in 2007) were acquired from narrower spacing (20x15
cm). Considering all of these results, it can be concluded that spacing 30x30 cm and 20x30
cm are best for both flower quality and corm size of gladiolus cv. Jester for mid hills of
Nepal.

INTRODUCTION

Gladiolus is the most popular cut flower in the world. It is the fourth important cut flower after rose,
chrysanthemum and carnation in the world. In case of Nepal it is the number one cut flower.
According to Devtech (1995) it is the largest grown cut flower in Nepal which occupies 70% of all cut
flower sales. It's popularity and demand is increasing day by day. The total demand of gladiolus
sticks per day is 3500-4500 and its production per annum is only 80000 sticks in Nepal (Gauchan et al
2009). It clearly showed that there is ample room for area expansion of gladiolus cut flower in Nepal.

Gladiolus is popular among the growers because it is easy to grow and doesn't need any protected
structure. It also has dual benefit to growers, which produce spike as well as corms. Gladiolus flower
comes with great variability in color, which is the major reason that consumers prefer it for cut flower.
The unique nature of gladiolus is its spike which opens one by one in sequence even under room
conditions. Furthermore, it is also an important cut flower for both domestic and international market.
Yanai et al (2007) reported that gladiolus is the cut flower having export potential for Nepal.

Proper plant spacing is an important agronomic practice which provide space for sunlight, moisture
availability and soil nutrients which are vital for successful crop production and its quality (Sanjib et
al 2002). Closer spacing occupies more plants but it reduces the quality of the product, while more

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spacing produce good quality but at the expense of crop numbers and profit (Ingels 2001). El-Shaikh
(2010) also reported that the adjustment of plant density offers a promising mean of reducing the cost
of cultivation by increasing the productivity per unit area. Growers always want to gain more profit
from per unit area. In order to get both quality spike and high corm yield, suitable plant spacing is
necessary. Thus, we started this project with the objective to identify the proper plant spacing to
produce maximum quality flower, corm and cormels of gladiolus cv. Jester at Agriculture Research
Station, Pakhribas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experiments were conducted for two consecutive years 2006 and 2007 at Agriculture Research
Station, Pakhribas. There were eight plant spacing 20x15, 20x20, 20x25, 20x30, 30x15, 30x20, 30x25
and 30x30 cm with three replications. The trials were laid out in randomized complete block design.
The plot size was 2.7 m2 and 5 kg FYM and 60:30:30 NPK gm/m2 were applied. Half nitrogen
incorporated as basal dose and half nitrogen as top dress one month after planting. In 2006, planting
was done in March 21 while in 2007 it was completed in February 21. Observations were made on
spike emergence date, flowering date, flower size, spike length, corm and cormel yield. Data were
analyzed by Genstat Discovery edition 4.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Flower parameters for year 2006

There were significant differences for spike emergence days, flowering days, flower size and number
of florets, plant height and spike length for 2006. The table 1 showed that the earliest spike emergece
was from 30x30 cm spacing followed by 20x30 cm. The delayed emergence was found from 30x15
cm spacing. The flowering day is the day of flower harvesting counted after spike emergence. The
earliest flowering was recorded from spacing 30x25 cm2 in 14.83 days followed by 30x15 cm and
30x30 cm. More time taken for flowering was from 20x20 cm spacing. Largest flower was found from
30x30 cm spacing followed by 20x30 (Table 1) and smallest flower was from 20x15 cm and 30x15
cm spacings. Similarly, greater number of florets were recorded from spacing 20x30 cm followed by
30x30 cm. The number of florets were at par with spacings 20x30 cm and 30x30 cm with 18.83 and
18.77, respectively. Similarly, spike length which is the major criterium for grading the gladiolus was
found longest from spacing 30x30 cm (Table 1) followed by 30x25 cm.

Table 1. Flower parameters in 2006

Treatments Spike emergence Flowering days Flower size (cm) No. of florets Spike length
(Spacing, cm) days (cm)
20x15 81.70±2.44cd 16.20±0.23abc 9.817±0.53e 17.07±0.80bc 93.43±6.10e
20x20 79.42±0.16abc 17.54±1.57c 10.100±0.25cde 17.83±0.03abc 96.63±2.90de
20x25 78.50±0.76abc 15.90±0.07abc 10.500±0.15abcd 18.20±0.34ab 100.53±1.00bc
20x30 76.57±2.69ab 16.40±0.43abc 10.667±0.32ab 18.83±0.97a 101.60±2.06abc
30x15 84.47±5.21d 15.03±0.93ab 9.983±0.37de 16.80±1.06c 98.07±1.47cd
30x20 80.30±1.04bc 16.80±0.83bc 10.283±0.07bcde 17.37±0.50bc 99.07±0.47bcd
30x25 77.77±1.49abc 14.83±1.13a 10.550±0.20abc 18.03±0.17abc 102.37±2.83ab
30x30 75.37±3.89a 15.03±0.93ab 10.902±0.55a 18.77±0.90a 104.60±5.06a
CV 2.7 6.2 2.8 3.8 2.0

Flower parameters for year 2007

For the year 2007, flower size, plant height and spike lenth were significantly different with different
plant spacings but flowering days and number of florets were insignifcant. Corms planted in 30x30

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cm spacing emerged the spike in 90.73 days while planted in 30x15 cm spacing emerged in 97.67
days. In same case earliest flowering was recorded from 30x30 cm followed by 30x20 cm. The largest
flower was observed from the spacing 20x30 cm (Table 2). Wider spacing provided the longest spike
length (101.90 cm).

Table 2. Flower parameters in 2007

Treatments Spike emergence Flowering Flower size (cm) No. of florets Spike length
(Spacing, cm) (days) (days) (cm)
20x15 95.10±1.51bcd 16.50 9.473±0.28b 17.97 91.10±5.30b
20x20 93.33±0.25abc 19.40 9.660±0.09ab 17.17 98.23±1.83a
20x25 91.10±2.49ab 16.07 9.760±0.10ab 18.63 99.03±2.63a
20x30 91.83±1.75ab 17.87 10.083±0.33a 19.57 100.80±4.40a
30x15 97.67±4.08d 15.97 9.340±0.41b 18.60 89.33±7.07b
30x20 96.17±2.58cd 14.90 9.640±0.11ab 18.37 92.73±3.67b
30x25 92.77±0.82abc 15.13 10.000±9.25a 19.20 98.10±1.70a
30x30 90.73±2.85a 14.57 10.050±0.30a 19.53 101.90±5.50a
CV 2.4 14.5 2.8 2.1 2.9

Flower and its parameters are important for gladiolus for economic point of view. There are earlier
spike emergence from 30x30 cm spacing in both years. In 2006, flower size was maximum by 30x30
cm spacing while in 2007 by 20x30 cm. As compared to year 2006, there were late spike emergence
in 2007. This was due to early planting in 2007 (in February) and low soil moisture. Similarly,
flowering in 2006 was earliest by 30x25 cm. Zubair and Wagir found earlier spike emergence in
20x60 cm spacing , while Ahmed et al (2010) reported the earlier spike emergence in 15x30 cm
spacing. According to Bijimol and Singh (2001) spacing 25x30 produced the early emergence of
gladiolus flower cv. Red Beauty. There are reports of earlier emergence of gladiolus spike cv. White
Prosperity (Bhat et al 2010) and cv. Single (Mane et al 2007) from wider spacing. All these reports
clearly showed that there is wide variation in spike emergence days with spacing. These variation in
days taken to spike emergence might be due to difference in genetic composition of different cultivars
and environment.

In our results we found largest flower size by 30x30 cm in 2006 and 20x30 in 2007. Bhat et al (2010)
reported the largest flower diameter by 20x20 cm spacing. Zuber and Wagir did not find any
significant difference on the floret size due to different spacings. Greater number of florets per spike
in 2007 from 20x30 cm was recorded. Spacing of 20x30 cm gave greater number florets per spike in
2006 in our experiment. Bijimol and Singh (2001) also reported that spacing 25x30 cm increased the
number of florets per spike and early emergence of spike. Bhat et al (2010), Zuber and Wagir also
found the maximum number of floret with wider spacing. Similarly, Ahmed et al (2010) found the
maximum floret of Blad Jack with 15x30 cm, of Arabian Night with 30x30 cm and of Sabu with
15x30 cm spacing. Increasing floret number per spike with increasing spacing might be due to
availibility of more light and nutrients. According to Zuber and Wagir, wider spacing decrease the
competition for nutrients and light and yield more number of florets per spike as the it depends upon
the vigor and health of plants and amount of carbohydrates stored in the plants.

Ahemed et al (2010) also found that wider planting distance increase spike length of gladiolus.
Longest spike length (80.3 cm) found from 20x30 cm spacing by Ahmed et al (2010). Similarly,
Mane et al (2007) found the same result that wider the spacing produced longer the spike of tuberose.

Corm parameters for year 2006

All corm and cormel parameters were significanlty different with plant spacings. Highest average
weight of daughter corm was measured 149.60 gm from the spacing 20x30 cm followed by 30x30 cm
spacing. Rest of the treatments were at par, not signifcantly different with each others. Maximum

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avereage cormel weight per plant (10.83 gm) was found from 30x30 cm spacings followed by 20x30
cm (10.50 gm). Largest corm diameter (7.68 cm) was recorded from 20x30 cm and spacing 20x 30
cm , but not significantly different with 20x20 cm, 20x25 cm, and 30x30 cm. Utmost corm yield
(29746 kg/ha) was observed from 20x15 cm spacing which was significantly highest as compared to
rest of all spacings. Similarly, highest cormel yield (989 kg/ha) was produced from 20x15 cm spacing
followed by 840 kg/ha from 30x15 cm and 789 kg/ha from 20x20 cm.

Table 3. Corm yield and its parameters for year 2006

Spacings Average corm Average cormel Corm diameter Total corm yield Total cormel
(cm) weight (gm) weight/plant (gm) (cm) (kg/ha) yield (kg/ha)
20x15 80.8±21.7c 4.29±2.61bc 6.517±0.461c 29746±9583a 989±347a
20x20 93.1±9.4b 5.03±1.87bc 7.028±0.050abc 22647±2484b 789±147abc
20x25 108.1±5.6b 7.70±0.80abc 7.403±0.425ab 22511±2348b 604±38bcd
20x30 149.6±47.1a 10.50±3.60a 7.680±0.702a 17998±2165cd 468±174bcd
30x15 86.0±16.6c 3.60±3.30c 6.463±0.515c 21442±1279b 840±198ab
30x20 87.7±14.9c 4.50±2.40c 6.870±0.108bc 19828±335bc 662±20bc
30x25 99.6±2.9c 8.73±1.83ab 6.843±0.135bc 16184±3979d 490±152cd
30x30 115.3±12.7b 10.83±3.93a 7.020±0.042abc 10948±9215e 293±349d
CV% 18.5 35.7 6.0 9.3 26.5

Corm yield and its parameters for year 2007

In 2007, the effect of spacings on average daughter corm weight, corm diameter and total corm yield
and total cormel yield were found significantly different, but average cormel weight per plant was
insignificant. Highest average corm weight was produced by 30x30 cm and this spacing was found
superior over all other spacings. The results presented in table 4 showed that largest corm (7.27 cm)
was found in 30x30 cm followedby 30x25 cm (6.995 cm), while total corm yield (1717 kg/ha) was
obtained from 20x15 cm. Average weight of daugher corm and total corm yield were found lower in
2007 as compared to year 2006. This might be due to heavy rainfall in 2007 during the flowering and
corm formation stage.

Table 4. Corm yield and its parameters for year 2006

Spacings Average corm Average cormel Corm diameter Total corm yield Total cormel
(cm2) weight (gm) weight/plant (gm) (cm) (kg/ha) yield (kg/ha)
20x15 73.8±13.3c 20.7 6.257±0.486c 17179±4196a 1402±41bc
20x20 75.5±11.5bc 21.0 6.563±0.179c 13463±479abc 1438±77bc
20x25 80.2±6.8bc 24.5 6.591±0.151c 12298±686abc 1301±60bc
20x30 85.5±1.5bc 16.9 6.673±0.069c 13901±918abc 1070±291bc
30x15 83.8±3.2bc 17.5 6.737±0.006bc 15463±2479ab 2228±867a
30x20 89.0±1.9bc 23.7 6.853±0.111bc 12290±693abc 1609±247ab
30x25 95.1±8.1b 19.9 6.995±0.254ab 10394±2590bc 1119±242bc
30x30 113.5±26.4a 23.8 7.270±0.527a 8880±4103c 721±640c
Cv% 11.9 36.1 2.5 20.7 28.9

Dana and Lerner reported that spacing of bulbous plants depends upon the size and type of bulb,
varying from 3 inches for small bulbs to 5-7 inches for large bulbs. Ahmed et al (2010) also found the
increasing weight of gladiolus corms with increasing spacing, which is in agreement of our results.
They found 30x30 cm produced maximum weight for Arabian Night and Blad Jack produced more
weight with 30x30 cm and Sabu produced more weight by 20x30 cm spacings. Wider spacing
produced maximum number of corms, cormels and weight of cormels (Bhat et al 2010).

Ahemed et al (2010) also reported that wider spacing 30x30 cm produced maximum size of cormels.
Both years' results showed the closer spacing yielded highest corm yield (kg/ha) and it is due to more
plant population in closer spacing.

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Proceedings of the 4th SAS-N Convention 4-6 April, 2012

The present results clearly showed that 30x30 cm spacing resulted best quality of spike and flowers.
However, for the corm and cormel parameters both 30x30 cm and 20x30 cm spacings were the best.
Thus, it can be concluded that plant spacing 30x30 cm can be recommended for quality flower spike
and quality corm and cormels

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