Growth, development and quality flower production of Lilium in hydroponic systems
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Date
2018
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Abstract
An experiment entitled “Growth, development and quality flower
production of Lilium in hydroponic systems” was carried out in the experimental site of
Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during 2017 and
2018. There were two systems viz., aggregate system and water culture. In aggregate
system sand, coco peat and perlite were used as the growing media and two
concentrations of nutrient solution having EC 1.0 dS/m and 1.4 dS/m were used; which
was laid out in factorial completely randomized design with four replications. On the
other hand in water culture three nutrient solutions at EC 1.0 dS/m, 1.4 dS/m and 1.8
dS/m were used and it was laid out in completely randomized design with seven
replications.
The study revealed that coco peat resulted in maximum leaf area (19.72
cm2), leaves per plant (35.84), plant height (64.41 cm), buds per plant (3.15), flower
diameter (21.51 cm), fresh weight of flower (5.54 g), dry weight of flower (0.57 g),
fresh weight of roots (19.73 g), root length (26.14 cm), roots per plant (119.07),
diameter of mother bulb (4.89 cm), daughter bulbs per plant (3.03) and shelf life (9.81
days in water). Maximum total chlorophyll content (2.76 mg g-1 FW) was recorded in
perlite. Minimum days to appearance of bud (34.38) and days to full bloom from
planting (84.09) was recorded in coco peat. Nutrient solution of EC at 1.0 dS/m was
found to be significantly superior to EC at 1.4 dS/m in all the growth as well as floral
parameters. Interaction effect of growing media and nutrient solution was found to be
significant and T2 x E1 (coco peat + EC at 1.0 ds/m) was found to be the best treatment
combination.
In water culture, EC at 1.0 dS/m resulted in maximum leaf area (19.10
cm2), leaves per plant (38.14), plant height (66.67 cm), buds per plant (3.14), flower
diameter (20.97 cm), fresh weight of flower (6.11 g), dry weight of flower (0.54 g),
fresh weight of roots (18.86 g), number of roots per plant (79.40), diameter of mother
bulb (4.81 cm), shelf life (9.74 days in water), leaf relative water content (77.98%) and
total chlorophyll content (2.54 mg g-1 FW). Minimum days to appearance of bud (35.02
days) and days to full bloom (84.05 days) was recorded in EC at 1.0 dS/m.
Economics of production revealed that highest benefit cost ratio of 1.20
was recorded in treatment combinations T2xE1 (coco peat + EC at 1.0 dS/m) and T2xE2
(coco peat + EC at 1.4 dS/m). Therefore, aggregate system (coco peat as growing
media) was found to be the best hydroponic system and EC of 1.0 dS/m as the best
nutrient dose for quality flower production of Lilium.