Effect of Biofertilizers and Biostimulants on Growth and Flowering in Gladiolus

An experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 14 treatment combinations replicated thrice with 24 corms per treatment per replication, in gladiolus cv. Red Beauty. Common basal dose consisting of Trichoderma viridae, FYM, biofertilizers namely, Azospirillum, VAM and PSB and decomposed coir was applied in all the treatments except one which consisted of general media and required fertilizer dose. Maximum plant height (102.8 cm) was recorded when plants were treated with 4 per cent Manchurian Mushroom Tea + 6 per cent Panchagavya, maximum duration of flowering (14.70 day) with 6 per cent Panchagavya, largest number of florets per spike (13.53) with 4 per cent Panchagavya, largest florets (10.67 cm) with 6 per cent Manchurian Mushroom Tea + 6 per cent Panchagavya and maximum vase life (8.20 day) with 4 per cent Manchurian Mushroom Tea. The maximum corm weight (29.63 g), number of cormels per plants (113.5) and cormels weight per plant (19.10 g) were recorded when plants were treated with 2 per cent Manchurian Mushroom Tea + 6 per cent Panchagavya. However, days to first flowering, spike length, weight of spike, number of corms per plant and corm diameter were found to be non significant.