Effect of Nutrient Sprays and Planting Depths on Growth and Bulb Production of Tulips

Studies were conducted to observe the effect of different frequencies of nutrient sprays in tulips at different planting depths under agro-ecological conditions of Kashmir Cheshmashahi Srinagar during 2016-17. Bulbs were planted at the depth of 10, 15 and 20cm and a water soluble fertilizer NPK (19-19-19) was sprayed with three frequencies 3, 5 and 7 sprays in two cultivars of tulip Apeldoom and Golden Oxford. The results reveal that minimum number of days for bulb sprouting was observed in the plants planted at a depth of 10cm irrespective of the variety. Plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and leaf area index was found maximum in the plants treated with 7 nutrient sprays which was at par with plants sprayed with 5 nutrient sprays in both the tulip cultivars. There was no significant effect of planting depth on vegetative parameters except plant height which was observed maximum at shallow depth of 10cm. In case of floral parameters days taken to flower bud appearance, color break and flower opening were minimum in plants planted at a depth of 10cm with 3 nutrient sprays. However flower bud length, flower diameter, scape length, scape thickness and flower duration were maximum in the plants treated with 7 nutrient sprays which were at par with the plants sprayed with 5 nutrient sprays and the effect of planting depth was found non-significant in these parameters. Similarly in the bulb parameters number of bulbs per plant, weight and size of main bulb was observed highest in plants planted at a depth of 20cm and sprayed with 7 nutrient sprays in both the tulip cultivars, however number and weight of bulblets per plant was found maximum in the plants planted at a depth of 10cm with 7 nutrient sprays and results were found at par with the plants treated with 5 nutrient sprays.