Effect of Silica Oxide Concentrations on Vegetative Growth, Flowering and Corm Attributes of Gladiolus under Tarai Conditions
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Date
2022-07
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
The present experiment was conducted at Model Floriculture Centre, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, during 2020-21. Experiment was laid out in factorial concept of randomized block design (RBD) in open field conditions. The objectives of investigation were to study the effect of silica oxide on growth, flowering, corms, cormels and vase life of gladiolus. The treatments used for soil application were pre-planting soil application of SiO2 (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 kg/ha) and for foliar application suspension was made of the same in water at 0% (water spray), 1% (4.7 g/m2), 2%(9.4 g/m2 ) and 3% (14.1 g/m2) of silica oxide and were sprayed at 30 and 60 days after planting. The medium sized (4.0- 4.5cm) corms were used as experimental material of gladiolus cultivar viz. “Rose Supreme”. The results revealed that most of the vegetative parameters like plant height, number of leaves and flowering parameters viz., days to spike initiation and flowering, floret size, spike and rachis length, number of floret per spike as well as vase life and corm and cormel parameters were found highly affected by the silicon oxide and were found to be best with the combined application of silica oxide as 75kg/ha soil application with 3% foliar application of silica dioxide. The number of corms, weight and diameter of corm, numbers of cormels and weight of cormels were also improved with the same treatment. Leaf nutrient analysis revealed higher concentration of silicon in the leaves at first floret colour showing stage which help in quality enhancement. hence, it is inferred that the combined application of silicon oxide (soil and foliar application) effectively enhanced the quantity and quality of gladiolus flowers, corms and cormels.