International Journal of Agriculture, Environment and Biotechnology
Citation: IJAEB: 8(1): 61-64 March 2015
DOI Number: 10.5958/2230-732X.2015.00007.8
©2015 New Delhi Publishers. All rights reserved
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HORTICULTURE
Effect of iron and zinc on growth, flowering and
bulb yield in lilium
Raimani Hembrom* 1 and Anil K. Singh 2
1 Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Division of Ornamental Crops, Hesaraghatta, 560 089, Bengaluru, India.
2 Banaras Hindu University, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Horticulture, 221 005, Varanasi, India.
*Corresponding author: rai.summer@gmail.com
Paper No. 291
Received: 11 August 2014
Accepted: 12 February 2015
Published: 25 March 2015
ABSTRACT
Lilium is a bulbous plant having non-tunicate bulbs. They are popular throughout the world for their
exotic colours and fragrance, making them ideal cut flowers. A trial was conducted to study the effect of
foliar spray of iron and zinc in form of sulphate to see their effect on growth, flowering and bulb yield
attributes in lilium. Bulbs of lilium cv. Tresor were planted under polyhouse condition and different
combinations of iron sulphate and zinc sulphate at 0.2% and 0.4% were applied as foliar spray at 30
and 45 days after planting. Experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 3 replications.
Foliar application of FeSO4 0.2% promoted length of flower stalk and diameter of 1st flower, while its
higher dose (FeSO4 at 0.4%) increased the number of buds plant-1 and weight of bulbs plant-1. Foliar
treatment of ZnSO4 at 0.4% significantly enhanced the number of bulblets plant-1, number of scales
bulb-1, diameter of 1st flower and diameter of bulb. Different treatment combinations of iron sulphate
and zinc sulphate also affected various characters like number of leaves plant-1, diameter of stem, days
to colour show and days to opening of 1st bud.
Highlights
Keywords: Lilium, Iron sulphate, Zinc sulphate, Growth, Flowering, Bulb yield
Lily is a herbaceous flowering plant belonging to
which dominate the world market i.e. Asiatic lily
the genus Lilium and family Liliaceae. They have
and Oriental lily. Asiatic lilies provide a wide range
large prominent and fragrant flowers which bloom
of colours of flowers, whereas Oriental lilies have
in rainbow colours. Liliums are propagated through
obsolete fragrance. Prolonged vase life of lilium
non-tunicate bulbs. Most of the species of lilium are
renders them to be excellent cut flower. Flowering
native to temperature northern hemisphere. Lily
bulbous plants require macro- and micronutrients
flowers make up brilliant cut flowers with their
for quality growth, flowering and bulb production.
massive flowers and pleasant fragrance. It ranks 4th
Recently, use of micronutrients essentially in
among top ten cut flowers in the world (Abd-Allah
fertilization of plants is gaining momentum due to
et al. , 2013). There are two major groups of lilium
their potentiality to enhance plant growth, flowering