Effect of Foliar Nutrition on the Population of Plant Parasitic Nematodes, Flower Quality and Yield of Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Hook)

The study aimed to find out the effect of different concentration of foliar nutrition on soil nematode population, yield and quality of gerbera flowers. The experiment was conducted in a field where different genera of plant parasitic nematodes from soil were recorded and the field was located at the Instructional cum Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Biswanath College of Agriculture, AAU, Biswanath Chariali during rabi season 2022-23. The experiment was laid out in factorial Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and twenty four treatment combinations viz., different concentration of foliar sprays T1: Control, T2: 3g/l NPK +20g/l micronutrient, T3: 4g/l NPK +20g/l micronutrient, T4: 5g/l NPK +20g/l micronutrient and six varieties V1: Pride of Sikkim, V2: Arka Krishika, V3: Pink Melody, V4: Orange Sun Brust, V5: Saffron, V6: Red Seven. Treatment wise suckers of different varieties of gerbera were planted at spacing of 30 cm from row to row and 30cm from plant to plant in each plot measuring 1sq.m. One month after planting treatment wise different concentration of foliar sprays were applied and same treatments were repeated at 15 days interval till six months from planting. Final nematode population in soil was recorded one month after the last application of foliar nutrients. Significant effect on different concentrations of foliar nutrition on the stalk length, flower diameter and number of flowers per plot was observed across all the varieties. The maximum stalk length, flower diameter and number of flowers per plot was observed in the treatment with 5 g/l NPK + 20 g/l micronutrient, in all the varieties, whereas the minimum was recorded in control. The highest number of flowers per plot was recorded in the plots with variety Pride of Sikkim. While the lowest number of flowers was recorded in plots with variety Red Seven. The variety Pride of Sikkim exhibited the maximum stalk length. The maximum flower diameter was observed in Orange Sunburst, while variety Red Seven recorded the minimum stalk length and flower diameter. The nematode population had shown a significant correlation with the varying concentrations of foliar nutrition. Among the different concentrations of foliar spray 5g/l NPK + 20 g/l micronutrient recorded minimum nematode population in soil, while maximum nematode population was recorded in control. The minimum nematode population in soil was recorded in the plots with variety Arka Krishika, while the maximum nematode population was recorded in plots with variety Red seven.