Hembrom and Singh
and yield. But the deficiency of micronutrients
flower stalk, days to colour show and opening of 1st
especially iron and zinc is a major problem in most
bud and diameter of 1st flower and bulb parameters
of the developing countries in the world (Sharma et
viz., number of bulbs/plant, bulblets/plant and
al. , 2014). The deficiency of micronutrients results in
scales/bulb, weight of bulbs/plant and diameter
different physiological abnormalities like chlorosis,
of bulb were recorded from the treated plants and
rosetting and scorching etc. (Singh et al. , 2012). Iron
statistically analyzed.
is associated with formation of chlorophyll and acts
as a catalyst in several reactions in plant metabolism.
Results and Discussion
It plays a key role in photosynthesis and respiration
pertaining to its property of being an oxygen carrier.
Growth Characters
Iron is also the most important element of all the
Data revealed in Table 1, clearly indicated that foliar
micronutrients for plant tissue growth (George and
spray of combination of iron sulphate and zinc
Manuel 2013). Zinc participates in synthesis of auxins
sulphate was effective in influencing various growth
and hence, enhances plant growth (Sarwar et al. ,
parameters such as number of leaves/plant, fresh
2012). It is also involved in carbon dioxide evolution,
weight of a leaf, dry weight of a leaf and diameter of
carbohydrate and phosphorus metabolism and
stem. However, all the treatments failed to produce
synthesis of RNA. Foliar spray of iron and zinc is one
any significant results for fresh weight of a leaf and
of the best methods for rectifying their deficiency
dry weight of a leaf in the treated plants. Treatment
(Woltz 1972). Not much work has been done on the
combination of FeSO 4 0.2% + ZnSO 4 0.4% resulted
aspect regarding effect of iron and zinc on growth,
into maximum number of leaves plant -1 (88.67).
flowering and yield particularly in Asiatic lilies.
It was significant to ZnSO 4 0.2%, ZnSO 4 0.4% and
Therefore, this study was undertaken with objective
control. Foliar application of FeSO 4 0.4% + ZnSO 4
to find out the response of Asiatic lily cv. Tresor to
0.4% significantly increased the diameter of stem
different doses of iron and zinc.
(15.99 mm) which was found to be significant over
Materials and Methods
Table 1 Effect of iron and zinc on growth characters
The experiment was carried out under polyhouse at
Horticulture Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural
Dry
Number
Fresh
Diameter
weight
Sciences, BHU, Varanasi, India in 2013-14. Healthy
Treatment
of leaves
weight of
of stem
of leaf
and disease free bulbs of lilium were planted at a
plant -1
leaf (g)
(mm)
(g)
spacing of 25 cm × 20 cm in individual plot size of
Control
65.33
0.25
0.03
11.16
1.00 × 0.8 m 2 . Pre-harvest treatments of iron sulphate
FeSO4 0.2%
83.33
0.22
0.03
13.99
and zinc sulphate were given, individually and in
FeSO4 0.4%
80.67
0.24
0.03
15.48
different combinations i.e. FeSO 4 0.2%, FeSO 4 0.4%,
ZnSO4 0.2%
74.00
0.17
0.02
11.75
ZnSO 4 0.2%, ZnSO 4 0.4%, FeSO 4 0.2% + ZnSO 4 0.2%,
ZnSO4 0.4%
71.66
0.20
0.03
12.55
FeSO 0.2% + ZnSO 0.4%, FeSO 0.4% + ZnSO 0.2%
4
4
4
4
FeSO4 0.2% +
and FeSO 4 0.4% + ZnSO 0.4% as foliar application
4
87.67
0.19
0.02
12.26
ZnSO4 0.2%
to lilium cv. Tresor at 30 and 45 days after planting.
FeSO4 0.2% +
Experiment was laid out in Randomized Block
88.67
0.14
0.02
12.28
ZnSO4 0.4%
Design with three replications for each treatment.
FeSO4 0.4% +
All the cultural operations like weeding, staking,
78.33
0.16
0.02
11.52
ZnSO4 0.2%
etc. were practiced when required. Various growth
FeSO4 0.4% +
parameters like number of leaves/plant, diameter
86.33
0.22
0.03
15.99
ZnSO4 0.4%
of stem, fresh and dry weight of a leaf, flowering
C.D. at 5%
13.36
NS
NS
3.48
parameters such as number of buds/plant, length of
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