Optimization of manuring and fertigation in tuberose hybrid Arka Prajwal

Abstract: A study was carried out in March 2023-January 2024 at the experimental field of the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala, India, for the standardization of manuring, irrigation and fertilizer level in tuberose hybrid, Arka Prajwal under drip irrigation and fertigation. The experimental layout was carried out in a split-split plot design with four replications of 16 treatment combinations. Main plot consisted of manures, the subplot consisted of irrigation levels and the sub-sub plot consisted of fertilizer levels. Surface irrigation and manual fertilizer application were treated as control. The synergistic effect of poultry manuring, drip irrigation, and fertigation proved outstanding regarding their individual effects and control. The treatment of poultry manure along with drip fertigation of ½ N and full K at IW/CPE 0.8, recorded the highest plant height (65.62 cm) with a greater number of leaves (18.81) at the spike initiation stage. The same treatment noticed the longest spike (104.70 cm) along with greater number of florets spike^-1 (47.55). However, greatest yield (89.67 g) was observed in the poultry manure treatment along with drip irrigation at IW/CPE 1 and 100% recommended dose of N and K through fertigation followed by poultry manure along with fertigation of ½ N full P and full K of recommended dose at IW/CPE 0.8. Considering overall performance, the application of poultry manure along with fertigation of ½ N and total K of recommended dose at deficit irrigation proved to be highly beneficial for growth and yield improvement in tuberose hybrid Arka Prajwal.