EFFECT OF GROWING MEDIA, ORGANIC FERTILIZATION AND BIOSTIMULANTS ON THE PRODUCTION OF GLADIOLUS (CV. NOVALUX) CORMS FROM CORMLETS

In a trial to solve one of the most important problems faced the production of Gladiolus plant in Egypt, i. e. the deterioration of corms production year after year. Therefore, they are annually imported from Netherlands. But in view of the rising prices of corms in recent years, studying the factors that may help to produce the corms locally is very necessary. So, the experimental trial was performed during two successive seasons (2011/2012 and 2012/2013) at the nursery of Horticulture Research Institute, Giza, Egypt. It intended to investigate the independent as well as the combined effects of different growing media (sand, sand/compost (1:1 v/v); sand/sewage sludge (3:1 v/v) and organic fertilization (actosol) and biostimulants (garlic and yeast extracts) on the production of Gladiolus corms from cormlets (cv. Novalux) locally. The results indicated that sand/compost (1:1 v/v) medium proved its mastery for increasing corms yield (No. of corms/experimental unit), corm fresh and dry weights, corm circumference, root length of the new formed corms, cormlets yield and cormlet fresh and dry weights. Using sand medium in plantation occupied the second rank in improving such parameters in both seasons. Meanwhile, slight effects were obtained on the same parameters due to using sand/sewage sludge medium in plantation. Chemical constituents of the new formed corms indicated also the prevalence of using sand/compost medium in raising N, P, K and total carbohydrates %. Actosol treatment proved its superiority in increasing both corms yield and quality in both seasons. Meanwhile, applying garlic extract occupied the second rank in improving the same traits with significant effect comparing with control in most cases. However, using yeast extract slightly improved these parameters and achieved the third position. Results, also showed the prevalence of treating plants with actosol for increasing cormlets yield (No. of cormlets/experimental unit) whereas, garlic extract achieved the second position for elevating the same parameter. Meanwhile, yeast application recorded the least effect in improving such trait. In the same time, either organic fertilization (actosol) or biostimulants (garlic and yeast) slightly improved cormlet fresh and dry weights, with insignificant effect in most cases. Also, the previous treatments showed slight increments on N, P, K and total carbohydrates % in new formed corms, where actosol was the best in this respect. Form the aforementioned results and interactions it could be recommended to grow Gladiolus (cv. Novalux) cormlets in sand/compost (1:1 v/v) medium and treating plants with organic fertilization (actosol) for producing the best corms and cormlets yield and quality.