EFFECT OF SPACING AND DEPTH OF PLANTING ON THE GROWTH FLOWERING AND YIELD OF GLADIOLUS

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in the Horticulture Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from November 2006 to June 2007 to study the effect of spacing and depth of planting on the growth, flowering and yield of Gladiolus. The experiment considered of two factors. Factor A: spacing (3 levels) i.e. S1 (25 cm x 10 cm), S2 (25 cm x 15 cm), S3 (25 cm x 20 cm) and Factor B: depth of planting (3 levels) i.e. 01 (5 cm), 02 (7 cm), D3 (9 cm). There were altogether 9 treatment combinations. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The results of the experiment showed that the plant spacing had significant effect on plant height (30 OAP, 75 DAP), number of leaves, length of spike, weight of spike, length of rachis, number of spikelets per spike, diameter of individual corm, weight of individual corm, number of cormel per plant, weight of cormcl per plant, yield of spike, yield of corm, yield of cormcl except plant height (45 DAP, 60 OAP) and length of leaves. The maximum (11.40 t/ha) yield of spike was found from the closest spacing and minimum (5.83 t/ha) was recorded from widest spacing. The maximum (7.99 t/ha) yield of corm was found from the closest spacing and minimum (4.17 t/ha) was recorded from widest spacing. The maximum (6.54 t/ha) yield of cormel was found from the closest spacing and minimum (3.52 t/ha) was recorded from widest spacing. Statistically significant variation was recorded in terms of different levels of depth of planting showed on plant height (75 OAP), length of leaves (30 OAP, 45 OAP), length of spike, weight of spike, length of rachis, weight of individual corm, number of cormcl per plant, weight of cormel per plant, yield of spike and yield of cormel. The maximum (8. 71 t/ha) yield of spike was found from the deepest depth and minimum (7.96 t/ha) from intermediate depth The maximum (5.91 t/ha) yield of corm was found from the deepest depth and minimum (5.75 t/ha) from intermediate depth The maximum (5.75 t/ha) yield of cormel was found from the shallowest depth and minimum (3.94 t/ha) was found from deepest depth. There were combined effect between spacing and depth of planting recorded significant for plant height (75 OAP), length of spikes, length of rachis, weight of a single spike, weight of cormels per plant, weight of corm per plant, yield of corm per hectare and yield of corm els per hectare. The maximum ( 18179I5 Tk/ha) gross return, maximum ( l 036029 Tk/ha) net return and maximum (2.33) benefit cost ratio all were found from the treatment combination of closest spacing and shallowest depth.