Vol. 12, Issue 8 (2023)

Author(s):
Pooja Fartiyal, BD Bhuj, Ranjan Srivastava, Ajay Kumar, NK Singh, Ajit Kumar and Ranjeet Singh

Abstract:
Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflora L.), “Queen of bulbous flowers” is also known as “sword lily” because of sword like leaves, the term coined by “Pliny the Elder”. It is a bulbous ornamental flowering plant native to South Africa. Gladiolus belongs to monocot family Iridaceae. The present experiment study described here was conducted at Model Floriculture Centre, GBPUA&T, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, during 2020-21 to study the Effect of Silica Oxide Concentrations on Vegetative Growth and Flowering Attributes of Gladiolus cv. Rose supreme under Tarai Conditions of Uttrakhand. Experiment was laid out in factorial concept of randomized block design (RBD) in open field condition. The experiment consisted of medium sized (4-4.5 cm) corms of gladiolus variety viz. “Rose Supreme”. Which were applied with different treatments of silica oxide as pre-planting soil application and foliar application at 30 and 60 days after planting in standing crop in different plot. The pre-planting soil application of SiO₂ viz. S₁ is control (0.0 kg/ha), S₂ (25 kg/ha), S₃ (50 kg/ha), S₄ (75 kg/ha) and S₅ (100 kg/ha) and for foliar application suspension was made of the same in water at 0% is control (Water spray), F₂ 1% (4.7 g/m²), F₃ 2% (9.4 g/m² ) and F₄ 3% (14.1 g/m²) of silica oxide and applied at 30 and 60 days after planting. With silicon treatment, the relevant growth attributes, including the plant height and spike lengths, Rachis length and flower diameters as well as the number of floret were all remarkably increased. Taken silicon application together, as soil and foliar application was able to effectively enhance the quality of gladiolus flowers.