Effect of Iron and Boron on Growth, Flowering and Corm Characters in Gladiolus cv. Malaviya Shatabdi

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the optimal iron and boron dosage for enhancing growth, flowering and corm yield in gladiolus (Gladiolus spp. cv. Malaviya Shatabdi). The experiment took place at the Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, during 2023-24. The treatments included a control (distilled water) and varying concentrations of iron and boron, applied as foliar sprays at 3rd and 6th leaf stage. The results demonstrated that the combined application of 0.2% B + 0.4% Fe significantly improved plant growth, flowering and corm yield parameters. This treatment results in the highest sprouts count per hill (3.63), compared to the control (2.07). Additionally, plants treated with 0.2% B + 0.4% Fe exhibited the tallest plant height (55.21 cm), length of longest leaf (51.81 cm), days to spike emergence, days to opening of 1st and last floret, diameter of 1st and last floret, length of 1st and last floret, number of florets per spike, total flowering duration and spike length. Similarly, corm production was also significantly influenced by Fe and B applications. Maximum weight of cormel per hill (3.03 g), number of corms per hill (3.68) and maximum diameter of corm (40.26 mm) were recorded with 0.2% B + 0.4% Fe. whereas, the control yielded the lowest. These findings suggest that foliar application of 0.2% B + 0.4% Fe optimizes vegetative growth, floral attributes and corm yield in gladiolus cv. Malaviya Shatabdi.