Determining the Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on Growth and Flower Yield of Tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) cv. Prajwal

Abstract

Tuberose (Polyanthes tuberosa L.) is a highly valued commercial bulbous ornamental plant found in tropical and subtropical climates in the Amaryllidaceae family. It is high demand in both domestic and distant markets due to its long tepels, funnel shape, and strong fragrance. The field experiment was carried out to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and flower yield of tuberose cv. Prajwal during the year of 2021 -2022 at Department of Horticulture, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar, Tamil Nadu. The investigation was laid out in Randomized Block Design with 10 treatments and replicated thrice. The treatments comprised of different levels of FYM (25% and 15%), poultry manure (25% and 15%), vermicompost (25 % and 15 %), inoculation of Azotobacter (2 kg ha-1) and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (2 kg ha-1) along with RDF (100 % and 75 %). Among the different treatments, T10 (75 % RDF + Azotobacter @ 2 kg ha-1 + PSB @ 2 kg ha-1)  was discovered to be more successful in improving all growth, physiological and flowering characters viz.,  plant height (51.75 cm), number of side shoots plant-1 (11.23), leaf area (98.76 cm2), chlorophyll content (0.99 mg g-1), dry matter production (42.37 g plant-1) and flowering and yield parameter viz., number of spike plant-1 (3.12), length of spike (105.30 cm), number of florets spike-1 (56.11) and flower yield ha-1 (15.72 t ha‑1).