Effect of Different Planting Dates on Gladiolus Production
Fatihullah* and Nadia Bostan
Department of Horticulture, University of Agriculture, Pakistan
Submission: January 22, 2018; Published: February 26, 2018
*Corresponding author: Fatihullah, Department of Horticulture, University of Agriculture, Pakistan; Email: fatihullah871@yahoo.com
How to cite this article: Fatihullah, Nadia B. Effect of Different Planting Dates on Gladiolus Production. Int J Environ Sci Nat Res. 2018; 9(1): 555753. DOI: 10.19080/IJESNR.2018.08.555753
Abstract
An experiment "Effect of different planting dates on Gladiolus "Indian local cultivar” was conducted at Agriculture Research Institute Mingora, Swat during 2015. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design. The experimental data was analyzed statistically. Mean tables are briefed for interpreting the results regarding sprouting percentage, number of leaves plant-1,plant height, corm diameter, corm weight and number of cormels plant-1 of Gladiolus, where all the parameters were significantly affected by different planting dates. Maximum sprouting percentage (94.57%), corm weight (46.67g), number of cormels (12.01) plant-1, plant height (114.16 cm), corm diameter (5.40cm) and number of leaves (14.03) plant-1 were observed on 10th February, while minimum sprouting percentage (86.66%), corm weight (34.33g), number of cormels (4.66) plant-1, plant height (98.40 cm), corm diameter (4.11cm) and number of leaves (8.67) plant-1 were observed on 12th March.
Keywords: Planting dates, Cultivars and corms
Introduction
Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus) popularly known as "Sword Lily” is an ornamental cormelous flower Memon [1] native to South Africa. It belongs to monocot family Iridaceous, having approximately one hundred and fifty known species Negi et al. [2]. This plant is commercially used for cut flowers and occasionally used for landscape purpose. Gladiolus produces very attractive flowers having great market demand. For the satisfaction of consumer, gladiolus flower should be available round the year. Gladiolus is one of the few plants which produce pleasant cut flowers with long spikes. These spikes are an integral part of almost every cut flower arrangement ranging from table decoration to bouquet formation. Gladiolus is cultivated in most of the tropical and subtropical countries of the world. In plains of Pakistan, it blooms profusely during the spring and summer. Gladiolus spikes takes 60 to 100 days after planting to be harvested depending upon the cultivars and time of year Jenkins [3]; Jenkins et al. [4].
The stem of gladiolus is herbaceous and the leaves are narrowly linear, flattened at the sides and sheathing at the base. The flowers are bisexual, actinomorphic, having 3stamens Hutchinson [5]. The most preferred soil for flowering of gladiolus is sandy loam having light texture, more organic matter and free drainage. The optimum level of pH is 5.5 to 6.5for growth and development of gladiolus. Gladiolus is vegetative propagated by corm Ramachandrudu, Thanga [6] which is a food-storing underground stem. The corm has the ability to maintain the plant while dormant until growth resumes after the spring rains begin. Upon plantation, gladiolus corm produces on its top a new daughter corm each year and itself shrivels and dies. The bud development occurs on the upper surface of the daughter corm from which the new plant grows. The bases of old leaves are thin and dry, which cover the corm. These papery leaves are called husks. The husks overlap each other and meet to form a point at the top.
While the new daughter corm is forming on the top of old one, small new corms called cormels or cormlets arise. These corms and cormels are the chief means of gladiolus propagation. Cormels are usually graded in to three sizes: large more than 1.0cm diameter, medium 0.5cm to less than 1.0cm, and small less than 0.5cm. Cormels are treated before storage with hot water solution to eradicate latent fungi, insect and nematodes Larson [7]. The cormel formation starts with the initiation of the flower spikes. When the spikes attain full bloom, cormels are produced and continue to increase in size as the photosynthates are directed downward Hartmann et al. [8]. Planting schedule varies because of differences in photoperiods, temperature and light intensity Susan et al. [9]. Vegetative growth and quality of gladiolus is improved by proper planting times which also satisfies the consumer's demands Zubair et al. [10]. Date of planting plays an important role in regulating growth and quality of gladiolus Noor-ul-amin 2013. Growth and yield of gladiolus, like other plants, depends on proper planting time. The present research work was planned to investigate the suitable planting time for better gladiolus production under the agro-ecological conditions of Swat, Pakistan.
Materials and Methods
An experiment "Effect of planting dates on the growth of gladiolus" was conducted at the Agriculture Research Institute (N) Swat, during 2015. Gladiolus cultivar (cv.) Indian Local was used in the experiment. The cormels were planted on three different dates with a regular interval of 15 days. The planting dates were scheduled as P1: February-10, P2: Februauy-25, P3: March-12. For all the treatments the culture practices were the same. The experiment was laid down as Randomized Complete Block Design. The field was thoroughly prepared and cleaned from weeds before planting the cormels. The length of ridges was kept 100 cm and 10 cormels were planted on a single ridge. Plant to plant and row to row distance was kept 10cm and 30cm, respectively. The following parameters were studied.
Sprouting Percentage
Number of cormels sprouted was counted for all the treatments in each replication and percentage was calculated by the following formula
Number of Leaves Plant
Number of leaves per plant was recorded by counting number of leaves from date of sprouting till the death of the plant and then average was calculated.
Plant Height (cm)
Plant height was measured with the help of measuring tape from soil surface to the apex of the plant and then average was calculated.
Cormel Diameter (cm)
Cormel size was measured with the help of vernier caliper and average data was calculated.
Corms Weight (g)
Each cormel of a treatment in each replication was weighted with the help of electric balance and then average was calculated.
Number of Corms Per Plant
Number of cormels per plant was counted in each treatment for each replication and then average was computed.
Statistical Procedure
All the data noted on plant growth parameters was subjected to analysis of variance process to confirm differences among various planting dates. Least significant difference (LSD) test was used for mean differences where the results were significant. Computer statistical software MSTATC was applied for calculating ANOVA and LSD Steel, Torrie 1980.
Results and Discussion
The experimental data was analyzed statistically. Mean tables are briefed for interpreting the results regarding sprouting percentage, number of leaves plant-1, plant height, corm diameter, corm weight and number of cormels plant-1 of Gladiolus grandiflorus.
Sprouting Percentage
The data recorded for spouting percentage is presented in Table 1 and analysis of variance is placed in Table 1a. The analysis of variance showed that different planting dates had significant effect on number of leaves plant-1. Mean table showed that maximum sprouting (94.28%) was found by cormels planted on 10th February followed by 25th February (90.37%), while minimum spouting (86.660 %)was produced by those planted on 12th March. The maximum sprouting percentage on 10th February might be due to the fact that the environmental conditions were favorable for the sprouting at that time Mc Kay et al. [11]. Similar results were also reported by Hong et al. [12], who observed decrease in sprouting percent of cormels due to delay planting.
LSD value at 0.05% level of probability for sprouting percentages = 5.3617
Number of Leaves Plant -1
The data recorded for number of leaves plant-1 is presented in Table 2 and analysis of variance is placed in Table 2a. The analysis of variance showed that different planting dates had significant effect on number of leaves plant-1. Mean table showed that maximum leaves (14.03) plant-1 was found by cormels planted on 10th February followed by 25th February (11.79) leaves plant-1, while minimum leaves (8.67) plant-1 was produced by those planted on 12th March. The maximum number of leaves plant-1on 10th February might is due to the fact that at that time the plants might have acquired maximum efficiency for development due to ideal condition Ahmad et al. [13]; Ko et al. [14] also reported that earlier plantation results in maximum number of leaves per plant in gladiolus.
LSD value at 0.05% level of probability for number of leaves per plant-1 = 1.2051
Plant Height (cm)
The data recorded for plant height is presented in Table 3 and analysis of variance is placed in Table 3a. The analysis of variance showed that different planting dates had significant effect on number of leaves plant-1. Mean table showed that maximum plant height (114.16cm) was observed in cormels planted on 10th February, followed by 25th Feb (106.23cm), while minimum plant height (98.40 cm) was observed in cormels planted on 12th March. The maximum plant height on 10th Feb might be the result of ideal condition for photosynthesis through which the plants acquired well developed structure and height. Ahmad et al. [15]. Almost similar results were found by Ko et al. [14] who mentioned that earlier planting produced larger corms and longer stems. Khan et al. [16] also stated that, planting time significantly influenced the vegetative growth of Tulip.
value at 0.05% level of probability for Plant Height= 1.3885
Corms Diameter (cm)
The data recorded for corms diameter (cm) is presented in Table 4 and analysis of variance is placed in Table 4a. The analysis of variance showed that different planting dates had significant effect on diameter. Mean table showed that maximum corm diameter (5.40 cm) was observed in cormels planted on 10th February followed by those planted on 25th Feb (4.72 cm), while minimum corm diameter (4.11cm) was produced by those planted on 12th March. The 10th February plantation had produced maximum corm diameter which showed that at that time the plants had best performance due to which they produced more photosynthesis which caused big sized corms. Zubair [10]. Similar results were also obtained by Asif et al. [17] who found that the biggest tuberose corms were produced in the month of February.
LSD value at 0.05% level of probability for Diameter of Corms= 0.4657
Corms Weight (g)
LSD value at 0.05% level of probability for Corm weight =3.6194
The data recorded for corm weight (g) is presented in Table 5 and analysis of variance is placed in Table 5a. The analysis of variance showed that different planting dates had significant effect on corm weight. Mean table showed that maximum corm weight (46.67g) was observed in cormels planted on 10th February was followed by those planted on 25th February (40.53), while the lowest corms weight of gladiolus (34.33) was recorded for cormels planted on 12th March. The cormels planted on 10th February gave maximum corm weight which might be due to the best adaptation of gladiolus for that time in which it had obtained well developed plants which promoted the cormels enlargement. The findings of Suh, Kwack [18] also confirmed the findings that the formation of good quality corms was promoted with early planting dates.
Number of Cormels Plant -1
LSD value at 0.05% level of probability for No of corm plant-1 = 1.6165
The data recorded for number of corms plant-1 is presented in Table 6 and analysis of variance is placed in Table 6a. The analysis of variance showed that different planting dates had significant effect on number of corms plant-1. Mean table showed that more number of corms (12.01) plant-1 was produced by cormels planted on 10th February followed by those planted on 25th February (8.65), while less number of corms (4.66) plant-1 was produced by those planted on 12th March. Maximum number of cormels production by 10th February plantation might be due to the reason that gladiolus requires slightly high temperature for cormels production Ahmad et al. [13]. Laskar [19] also reported best corm production in February plantation as compare to March plantation [20-28].
Conclusion
Conclusions based on experimental results are as: Maximum sprouting percentage, number of leaves plant-1 and plant height was recorded on 10th February. Maximum corm diameter, corm weight and number of corms plant-lwas obtained those planted on 10th February.
Recommendation
Based on above conclusion 10th February is recommended as the best time for growth of gladiolus.
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