Combined Efficacy of Organic Manures, Bio-Control Agents and Bio-Fertilizers in Improving Growth, Flowering and Quality Parameters of Gladiolus Cv. American Beauty

The present investigation was carried out to develop the organic farming practices of gladiolus cv. American Beauty utilizing bio-fertilizers and bio-control agents along with organic manures in 16 different combinations and the effects were compared with application of FYM only. The results indicated that growth and flowering as well as quality parameters were significantly influenced by integration of organic manures, bio-fertilizers and bio-control agents. The tallest plants (127.19 cm) and maximum number of leaves/ plant (14.04) were observed in the treatment consisting of Vermicompost (0.5 Kg/m2) + Bio-inoculant treated corm + application of Bio-control agents (Pseudomonas fluorescens + Trichoderma @ 0.5Kg/m2 each) + application of Nitrogenous Bio-fertilizers (Azotobacter + Azospirilum mixture @ 0.5Kg/m2 each) + application of Phosphatic Bio-fertilizer (Phosphate solubilizing bacteria @ 0.5Kg/m2) [T15]. This treatment also recorded earliest spike emergence(60.48 DAP) and superiority in yield attributing characters like - spike length (93.06 cm), number of florets per spike(13.39), vase-life (6.90 days), weight of corm with scale leaf (72.34 g), weight of dehusked corms (70.57 g) and diameter of corms (69.16 mm). The quality parameters like chlorophyll, total phenol and protein content of leaves as well as anthocyanin content of florets were also influenced by combined use of organic manures and biological sources of nutrients. Hence, T15 may be considered as best supplementation of nutrients through organic approach and may be included in the package of practices for organic production of gladiolus in the Terai region of West Bengal.