Influence of Foliar Application of Iron and Zinc on Growth, Corm and Cormel Yield in Gladiolus cv American Beauty

摘要

Gladiolus is most fascinated by flower lovers because of its magnificent spikes having unique floral arrangement which is available in a diversity of colors. Apart from being used as cut flowers they are also grown in beds with other plants. Micronutrients play pivotal roles in the growth and development of flowers along with the macronutrients. Deficiency of these micronutrients can lead to various physiological disorders which ultimately affect the production and quality of cut flowers. An experiment was conducted to study the response of gladiolus to foliar application of iron and zinc. Iron sulfate and zinc sulfate at the concentration of 0.2% and 0.4% were taken for foliar spray. The spraying was done at 3 and 5 leaf stage. Experiment was laidout in randomized block and the results obtained revealed that ZnSO^ at 0.2% increased dry weight of leaf and ZnSO_, at 0.4% foliar dose increased length of longest leaf, width of longest leaf and also improved weight of corms / hill, weight of cormels /hill and diameter of corm. Foliar spray of combination of FeSG^ 0.2% -t- ZnSO^ 0.4%and FeSO^ 0.4% + ZnSO^ 0.4% increased number of conns / hill and number of leaves / plant, respectively.