Effect of Bulb Size, Planting Density and Depth of Planting on Growth, Flowering and Bulb Production of Tuberose (Polianthes Tuberosa Linn.)

Effects of bulb size, planting density and depth of planting on vegetative growth, flowering and bulb production were investigated in a two year experiment on tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa Linn. cv. single). Deep planting (6 cm) resulted in delay of sprouting as compared to shallow planting (4 cm). Leaf number increased with. the size of bulbs and decreased with the increasing plant density. The number of flower sticks produced was found to be directly related to the size of the bulb used for planting. Increasing bulb size at planting brought about significant increase in the length of flower stem and rachis, while plant density or depth of planting did not show such effect. No commercial advantage from close planting of tuberose for a period of two years was recorded. Similarly, there was no obvious advantage from planting bulbs above 3.0 cm diameter. Bulb yield increased with the increasing size of bulbs and depth of planting, but decreased with planting density. The interactions between different factors were not significant.