Influence of Corm Size and Spacing on the Growth, Flowering and Corm Traits of Gladiolus cv. Malaviya Shatabdi

Abstract

Present study was conducted at the Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, during the 2023-24 cropping season to evaluate the effects of corm size and spacing on the growth, flowering and corm yield of gladiolus cv. Malaviya Shatabdi. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design comprising 24 treatment combinations with 3 replications, involving four corm sizes (1.0-2.0 cm, 2.1-3.0 cm, 3.1-4.0 cm and 4.1-5.0 cm) and six spacing treatments (30 cm × 20 cm, 30 cm × 25 cm, 30 cm × 30 cm, 30 cm × 40 cm, 20 cm × 20 cm and 20 cm × 30 cm). The results showed that both corm size and spacing had a significant impact on all growth and yield parameters. The largest corm size (4.1-5.0 cm) led to maximum number of leaves per hill (14.95), highest scape width (2.58 cm), widest leaves (2.44 cm), longest rachis and intermodal length (44.51 cm and 4.31 cm), highest corm weight (32.39 g) and the highest number of cormels per plant (11.12). Among the spacing treatments, wider spacing (30 cm × 30 cm) resulted in the widest leaves (2.64 cm), more number of leaves (15.05), widest scape (2.81 cm), highest length and width of 3rd (10.03 cm and 8.98 cm) and 5th florets (10.03 cm and 9.03 cm) respectively. The combination of the largest corm (4.1-5.0 cm) and wider spacing (30 cm × 30 cm) produced maximum number of leaves per hill (53.96 cm), maximum number of opened florets (9.91) and the highest number of cormels per plant (13.32). The smallest corm size (1.0-2.0 cm) with closer spacing (20 x 30 cm) resulted in delayed opening of 3rd (102.98 days) and 5th (104.99 days) and the lowest no. of leaves per hill (6.41). These findings suggest that larger corms and wider spacing optimize growth and yield parameters of gladiolus cv. Malaviya Shatabdi.