Influence of nutrient sources on performance of Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) Cv. Soto under naturally ventilated polyhouse

Abstract

An emblem of Mother’s day Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) is one of the world’s most popular and leading cut flowers belongs to the family Caryophyllaceae. The study was conducted with 11 treatment combinations including RDF (250:80:200 g NPK + 2 kg FYM/m2) as check to find out the best integrated nutrient approach with Azospirillum (60 g/m2), PSB (60 g/m2), FYM (2 kg/ m2) and vermicompost (500 g/m2) along with 75 per cent RDF (T11). Increased plant height (96.55 cm), plant spread (36.86 cm), leaf area (1646.33 cm2) leaf area index (7.92) after 150 days of planting were observed in (T11). Maximum chlorophyll content (1.71 mg/g) of leaves and minimum mortality by insect pests (1.87 %), disease (3.41 %) were also noticed in the same treatment. Available nitrogen (263.15 kg/ha), phosphorus (37.97 kg/ha), potassium (126.27 kg/ha) in soil and total nitrogen (6.83 %), phosphorus (0.69 %) and potassium (3.97 %) content in plants were found maximum in the treatment T10 (Azospirillum + PSB + VC + 75 % RDF) and minimum in check .