Performance of Limonium (Limonium sinuatum) Varieties in Southern Karnataka under Different Planting Densities

Abstract

The investigation was carried out at research farm Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Horticulture, Bengaluru during 2023-2024. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (FRCBD) with nine treatment combination comprising of three varieties i.e, Shooting Star (V1), Silver Pink (V2), Sky Light (V3) and three levels of spacing viz., S1 (45 × 45 cm), S2 (60 × 30 cm) and S3 (60 × 45 cm) and were replicated thrice. Among interaction maximum plant height (26.41 cm), plant spread in E-W direction (44.83 cm) and cut flower yield per hectare (94814.81 panicles) was found in V3S2 (Sky Light + 60 × 30 cm). whereas, maximum plant spread in N-S direction (45.30 cm), number of leaves per plant (89.33), chlorophyll content (82.17), earliest panicle emergence (59 days), earliest 50 per cent panicle emergence (74 days) and panicle length (93.93 cm) was found inV3S1 (Sky Light + 45 × 45 cm). However maximum cumulative number of panicles per plant (12.93) was observed in V3S3­ (Sky Light + 60 × 45 cm). The limonium variety 'Sky Light' outperformed other evaluated varieties in terms of growth and yield characteristics. Among the different plant spacings assessed, the closer spacing of 45 × 45 cm delivered the best results for most flowering and quality traits.