Bora, SunilHandique, Dolly2021-10-082021-10-082017-07https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810176831An experiment was carried out at the experimental site, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat during September 2016 to May 2017 to study the “Growth and flowering of gerbera under hydroponics”. The experiment was laid out in two factor Completely Randomized Design with three replications comprising of eight different growth media viz., Control (untreated), T1 (Sand gravel), T2 (Coconut husk), T3 (Coco peat), T4 (Sand gravel+ Coconut husk), T5 (Sand gravel + Coco peat), T6 (Coconut husk+ Coco peat), T7 (Sand gravel+ Coconut husk+ Coco peat) and four duration of nutrient application viz., H1 (Once daily), H2 (Twice daily), H3 (Alternate days) and H4 (Two days interval). The study revealed that growth media significantly influenced the growth and development of gerbera plants. Maximum plant height (32.62cm),leaves per plant (15.17), leaf breadth (9.04cm), leaf area (108.18cm2), suckers per plant (4.63), early bud visibility (69.24 days), full bloom (17.79 days), flowers per plant (16.36), flower stalk length (51.90cm), flower diameter (8.59cm) and flower stalk dry weight (1.75g), self life (19.52 days), vase life (9.65 days), root fresh weight (10.72g), root dry weight (2.35g), root length (28.14cm), leaf relative water content (64.10%) and total chlorophyll content (1.405mg g-1) were obtained in T3. However, maximum leaf length (15.00cm), flower stalk fresh weight (10.68g) and roots per plant (14.62) was observed in T6. Regarding nutrient application, twice daily applied nutrient solution (H2) significantly influenced the plant height (31.29 cm), leaves per plant (14.60) leaf length (14.32cm), leaf breadth (8.33cm), leaf area (100.49cm2) suckers per plant (4.40), early bud visibility (75.43 days), full bloom (20.96 days), flowers per plant (14.46), flower stalk length (50.46 cm), flower diameter (8.23cm), flower stalk fresh weight (9.87g), flower stalk dry weight (1.42 g), self life (18.66 days) and vase life (9.02 days), root fresh weight (8.47g), root dry weight (1.63g) and root length (22.44cm), roots per plant (10.59), leaf relative water content (55.73 %) and total chlorophyll content (1.068mg g- 1).Treatment combination T3xH2 (Coco peat with twice daily applied nutrient solution) was found best for all the recorded characters except leaf length (15.67 cm),flower stalk fresh weight (11.48 g) and roots per plant (15.31 g)which were maximum in T6xH2 (Coconut husk+ coco peat and twice daily applied nutrient solution) while dry weight of flower (1.80 g) was maximum in T3xH3 (Coco peat and nutrient solution applied at alternate days). Economics of production resulted that the highest B:C of 4.01 observed in treatment combination T3xH2. Thus, it can be concluded that growth media and duration of nutrient application significantly affect the overall growth and flowering in gerbera. Coco peat with twice daily applied nutrient solution could be recommended for better effect in gerbera.EnglishThesis