Impact of soilless media and nutrient spray frequency on growth and flowering of grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniaca L.) under open conditions

Abstract

The experiment was conducted with four nutrient spray frequencies of NPK (20:20:20)@, 3 g/L at 3 days interval, at 7 days interval, at 10 days interval and at 15 days interval and four different types of growing media combinations viz; (Garden soil), (Vermicompost + Cocopeat + Perlite [1:1:1 v/v], (Vermicompost + Cocopeat + Vermiculite [1:1:1 v/v] and M3 (Vermicompost + Perlite + Vermiculite [1:1:1 v/v]. The vegetative, floral and bulb parameters showed significant improvement in growing media (Vermicompost + Perlite + Vermiculite [1:1:1 v/v] and nutrient spray frequency NPK (20:20:20)@3 g/L at 3 days interval. The maximum number of leaves plant-1 (7.33), plant spread (58.16 cm), number of spikes plant-1 (4.00), spike length (22.50 cm), diameter of spike (2.31 mm), number of bulbs plant-1 (3.33), diameter of main bulb (3.60), number of bulblets plant-1 (16.33), weight of main bulb (37.33 g) and minimum days taken to flowering (102) were recorded by using growing media combination of Vermicompost + Perlite + Vermiculite [1:1:1 v/v] and nutrient spray frequency of NPK (20:20:20)@3 g/L at 3 days interval. So the growing media combination (Vermicompost + Perlite + Vermiculite [1:1:1 v/v] and nutrient spray frequency of NPK (20:20:20)@3 g/L at 3 days interval was found to be best for improving the vegetative, floral and bulb parameters of Grape Hyacinth (Muscari armeniaca L.).