Biostimulants for Promoting Growth, Yield and Flower Quality in Anthurium andreanum Lind

Abstract

The present study was carried out at the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala Agricultural University, during 2022-23 with an aim to evaluate the effect of foliar application of different biostimulants on growth, yield, and flowering attributes of Anthurium under naturally ventilated polyhouse condition. The experiment was laid out in CRD with ten replications. There were fifteen treatments including the control.  Fertilizers and manures were applied as per the Package of Practices Recommendations of Kerala Agricultural University (i.e., application of cow dung supernatant + 2 g L-119:19:19 weekly once) to all the treatments including the control (T1). In addition, for treatments T2 to T15, different biostimulants were applied as foliar sprays either alone or in combination fortnightly or monthly as per the treatment specifications. Being a popular cut flower, improvement in floral attributes is very much valued in Anthurium. The study concluded that the treatment T8 i.e., application of cow dung supernatant and 2 g L-119:19:19 weekly once as foliar spray along with foliar application of   2% humic acid - fulvic acid mixture and 100 mg L-1 salicylic acid at fortnightly intervals exhibited superior values for stalk length, spathe length, spathe width, number of flowers, flower longevity and vase life and it also recorded earliest flower bud initiation. The results revealed that growth and floral attributes of Anthurium can be improved through the foliar application of treatment T8.