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

The experimental trial was consummated during two successive seasons (2011/ 2012 and 2012/ 2013) at the nursery of Hort. Res. Inst., Giza, Egypt. It was intended to find out the solve of one of the most important problems faced the production of Gladiolus in Egypt, i.e. the deterioration of corms production year after year. So, the independent as well as the combined effects of different growing media (sand, sand/compost 1:1 v/v and sand/sewage sludge 3:1 v/v), fertilization treatments (NPK at 1:2:1, kristalon and EM 5%) and their interaction were investigated on the production of Gladiolus corms from cormlets locally. The results indicated that growing cormlets in sand/compost (1:1 v/v) medium proved its mastery in raising corms yield, corm fresh and dry weights, corm circumference and root length of corm as well as cormlets yield and quality in both seasons. Meanwhile, using sand medium in plantation achieved the second rank in improving the same parameters in the same seasons. Results indicated also the prevalence of all corms and cormlets parameters due to applying the mixture of N, P and K, whereas kristalon and EM 5% showed less effect in this regard. Chemical constituents of the new formed corms were also affected by the previous treatments, where growing cormlets in sand/compost medium showed its superiority in raising N, P and K as well as total carbohydrates content in the new corms. Also, NPK fertilization revealed an increment on the same parameters in the same organ. From the aforementioned results and interactions, it could be recommended to grow Gladiolus (cv. Novalux) cormlets in sand/compost medium along with treating the plants with NPK mixture at a ratio of 1: 2: 1 at the rate of 2 g/pot, 8 times at 15 day intervals to obtain high yield and quality of the new formed corms.