Biofertilizers are microbial cultures which were applied to the corms at planting time using the dip method followed by shade drying before planting. These not only helped in improvement in nutrient uptake by the plants, releasing of growth hormones and antibiotics but also improved the quality of produce along with reduced cost of production.
Biofertilizer application along with reduced doses of chemical fertilizers responded well and causes significant improvement in vegetative, floral, corm characteristics and nutrient status in soil, leaves and corms of gladiolus.
Treatment combination containing Azotobacter + Azospirillum + 80% N +100% P & K of recommended dose resulted in minimum number of days taken to corm sprouting (14.00), maximum number of leaves plant-1 (10.63), highest number of f lorets spike -1 (14.20), maximum spike length (78.55 cm), more number of spikes m-2 (32.00), highest number of corms and cormels plant- 1(3.2 &38.10), more number of corms m-2 (74.70). Maximum weight of corms ( 3.33 kg m-2), maximum size of corm plant-1 (5.62 cm), maximum weight of cormels plant-1(22.1g), highest weight of cormels (0.53 kg m-2) were recorded in the treatment containing VAM +PSB +80% P +100% N & K of recommended dose.
The application of biofertilizers not only improved the general health of the plant but also increase the benefit cost ratio by producing maximum number of corms m-2, hence this standardized technique of application of biofertilizers is recommended to serve as a viable tool in ensuring the healthy and profitable flower crop which would ensure a good price to the growers who are engaged in flower cultivation.
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Slathia, Divya & Nazki, Imtiyaz & Mushtaq, N. & Malik, Kaiser. (2021). Impact of Integrated Use of Biofertilizers with Reduced Doses of Chemical Fertilizers in Flower Crops.