Effect of bulb splitting on tuber production of Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cv. Prajwal in the plains of West Bengal

To study the methods of bulb production of tuberose cv. Prajwal, an experiment was conducted at the Horticultural Research Farm, Mondouri, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya during the year 2009 - 2011 with five bulb size of tuberose - Whole th th th bulb, ½ bulb, 1/4 bulb, 1/6 bulb and 1/8 bulb. Each bulb size (treatment) was replicated four times in Randomized Block Design. Planting was done in April 2009, at a spacing of 30 cm X 30 cm. Highest number of bulbs per clump (large, medium and small) per plot was recorded in whole bulb (4.22, 9 and 30.33 nos.) followed by ½ bulb (3.44, 6.77 and 15.33 nos.) and maximum weight of bulbs per clump (large, medium, small) was produced by whole bulb (192.44, 95.33, 55.55) followed by ½ bulb (185.22, 92.50, 34.99). The maximum (Size) diameter of bulbs per clump(large, medium and small) was produced by whole bulb (4.32cm, 1.86 cm, 0.92 cm) followed by ½ bulb (4.27 cm, 1.64 cm, 0.92 cm). Dry matter percentage of bulb was highest in whole bulb (35.72%) followed by ½ bulb (35.51%). The interpretation of the analyzed data reveals that whole bulb and ½ bulb performed comparatively better than other bulb sizes in respect to good quality bulb production. Therefore along with the whole bulbs farmers can use the ½ bulb size with a portion of the disc plate intact for propagation and bulb production of Prajwal under the Gangetic plains of West Bengal.