Influence of NPK fertigation and foliar application on flower quality, media physico-chemical properties and foliar nutrient content in carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) cv. Master

Sixteen different fertilizer treatments were accessed in a completely randomized block design for their effects on cut- flower grades, media physicochemical properties and foliar nutrient content in carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) cv. Master plants grown under naturally ventilated greenhouse conditions at the Research Farm of Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India during 2010 and 2011. Rooted cuttings were planted in a sterilized growing media comprising of soil: FYM: coco peat (2:1:1, v/v). Carnation cultivar Master plants fertilized with treatment comprising of 250 ppm N and K fertigation through urea and MOP + 250 ppm NPK (19:19:19) foliar spray once a week showed significant increase in quality parameters (i.e. percentage of A, B and C - grade flowers based on stem strength) in comparison to the recommended practices. Highest available NPK content in the media (371.03, 37.09, 276.87 kg/ ha) as well as in foliage (2.867, 0.364, 3.954 %) were also recorded with the same treatment

Effect of Gibberellic Acid (GA3) and Benzyl Adenine (BA) on Vegetative Growth and Flower Induction in Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandifloras)

The present study was carried out during 2021 -2022 at the experimental farm of Division of Floriculture and Landscaping, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Chatha, Jammu and Kashmir. The trial was laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications and twenty-one treatment combinations. The treatment comprised of three gladiolus varieties viz., American Beauty, White Prosperity and Red Beauty and two growth regulators with their three levels of each viz., BA (50, 75 and 100 ppm) and GA3 (100, 150 and 200 ppm), and compared with control. The influence of foliar application of plant growth regulator on vegetative growth and flower induction of three gladiolus varieties namely American Beauty, White Prosperity and Red Beauty. Growth regulators, viz., gibberellic acid (100, 150 and 200 ppm) and benzyl adenine (50, 75 and 100 ppm) were sprayed at 3 leaves and 6 leaves stage after planting of corms. The results revealed that foliar application of GA3 @ 200ppm on cv. ‘White Prosperity’ recorded maximum plant height (134.27 cm), number of leaves per plant (8.53), leaf area (74.41 cm2), minimum days to 50% spike emergence (95.00) and 50% basal floret showing colour (107.00 days). It can be concluded from the present investigation that gladiolus variety ‘White Prosperity’ performed better than other varieties in respect of all the vegetative and flowering parameters. Among interactions, foliar application of GA3 @200 ppm concentration significantly increased vegetative parameters and induced early flowering in variety White Prosperity