Effect of Phosphorus on Growth and Yield of Gladiolus (Gladiolus Grandiflora L.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of phosphorus and variety on growth, flowering, corm and cormel production of gladiolus during the period from November 2012 to April 2013. The object of the experiment was to determine the optimum level of nutrient for higher yield of flowers, corms and cormels production of gladiolus. The experiment included for four levels of phosphorus and three varieties of gladiolus. The experiment was laid out in the Randomized Complete Block Design with three replication. The results of the experiment revealed that the application of phosphorus influenced growth, flowering, corm and cormels yield of gladiolus. The highest yield of spike (81111/ha) was obtained from the 450 kg/ha and variety White Queen (77917) and the lowest (69444/ha) at the control treatment and variety Kolmilota produced lowest (75000 t/ha). The highest yield of corm (5.24 t/ha) and cormel (2.58 t/ha) were found from 450 kg/ha and 300 kg/ha, respectively while the lowest yield of corm (5.11 t/ha) and cormel (1.86 t/ha) at control treatment. The variety White Queen produced the highest yield (5.25 t/ha) of corm and Kolmilota produced the highest cormel (2.43 t/ha) and the lowest yield of corm (5.13 t/ha) for Red Beauty and cormel (2.08 t/ha) for komlilota. The economic analysis showed that the highest net return TK (685228) and the Benefit Cost Ratio (2.12) were obtained from the 450 kg/ha. And variety White Queen gave the highest net return TK (644826) and the Benefit Cost Ratio (2.05).