Impact of nutrient management strategies on growth and propagation potential of rose rootstocks (Rosa multiflora & Natal Briar) and scion varieties

Quality planting material plays a pivotal role in attaining maximum productivity and quality of any flower crop. Considering this, an experiment to study the effect of nutrient management in rose rootstock (Rosa multiflora & Natal Briar) and scion (Arka Savi & Arka Swadesh) mother plants for propagation was carried out in the research block of the Division of Flower and Medicinal Crops, ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru during the year 2022-23 and 2023-24. The experiment was laid out according to Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with two rootstocks (Rosa multiflora & Natal Briar), four different nutrient combinations (400:200:200 kg (control), 600:200:700 kg, 450:150:525 kg and 300:100:350 kg NPK/ha/year) in five replications. Among the rootstocks, Natal Briar recorded the maximum plant height (185.81 cm) and maximum number of secondary branches per plant (15.95). Among different nutrient combinations tried, the application of 450:150:525 kg NPK/ha/year to the mother plants recorded maximum plant height (183.23 cm). Among the interaction effects, application of 600:200:700 kg NPK/ha/year to the Natal Briar rootstocks recorded maximum plant height (215.78 cm) and Rosa multiflora rootstock supplied with 450:150:525 kg NPK/ha/year recorded the maximum number primary branches per plant (12.74). Among the different type of scion highest plant height was noticed in scion variety Arka Swadesh (107.37 cm), however Arka Savi was recorded maximum number of primary branches/plant (4.48) and maximum number of secondary branches/plant (28.91). Among different type of nutrient concentrations, at the nutrient 450:150:525 kg NPK/ha/year recorded the significantly maximum plant height (109.18 cm). However, the nutrient combination 600:200:700 kg NPK/ha/year was recorded the maximum number of primary branches/plant (4.61). These findings could be used for large-scale production of healthy and vigor rootstock and scion bud for the steady production of quality planting materials in rose.