Response of Gladiolus to Integrated Nutrient Management

Gladiolus is very popular cut flower and commercially grown worldwide. In India, it is one of the most commonly grown cut flowers and extensively used. There is a great scope for increasing cultivation of gladiolus in Gujarat, as the soil and climatic conditions of these regions are favourable. The most important cultural practice for production of gladiolus cut flowers is nutrition. The basic concept underlying the integrated nutrient management system (INMS) is the maintenance and possible improvement of soil fertility for sustained crop productivity on long term-basis and also to reduce inorganic (fertilizer) input cost. INM helps in maintaining or enhance soil productivity through a balanced use of fertilizers combined with organic and biological sources of plant nutrients, improving the stock of plant nutrients in the soils and improve the efficiency of plant nutrients, thus, limiting losses to the environment. Limited research work has been done on the balance use of different sources of nutrient in this important flower crop. I am sure this book will be very useful to the students and researchers of floriculture subject.