Impact of Silicon Application on Corms and Cormels Growth in Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus Hort.) cv. ‘White Prosperity’

The objective of present study was to assess the impact of different doses and method of silicon application on growth of underground corms and cormels in gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus Hort.) cv. White Prosperity. The experiment was conductedat Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India during 2021-22. The experiment was designed in split plot randomized block design with three replications. It encompassed five basal doses of silicon (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 kgha-1 as SiO2) along with four foliar sprays at 3rd and 6th leaf stage (water spray, 1%, 2% and 3% as SiO2). The results showed that corm and cormel production was enhanced with linear increase in silicon dose as basal as well as foliar application with maximum at 100 kgha-1(1.40 and 28.74) and 3% (1.42 and 29.42). However, combined application recorded significantly maximum number of corms and cormels per plant (1.80 and 37.12) with 75 kgha-1+ 3% and 100 kgha-1+ 3%. Combined application of silicon @75 kgha-1as basal and 2% as foliar produced maximum corm weight (38.46 g), whereas cormels weight per plant (28.47 g) was observed maximum with 100 kgha-1basal application along with 3% foliar spray. Basal application of silicon dioxide gave more values for corm traits as compared to foliar application. Hence, it was concluded that silicon application at 100 kgha-1as basal along with 3% foliar spray at 3rd and 6th leaf stage could be recommended to improve underground corm and cormel production in gladiolus.