Influence of Fertilizer Levels and Foliar Application of 6-Benzylaminopurine on Flowering, Cut-flower Quality and Economic Returns of Statice (Limonium sinuatum L.)

The present investigation was conducted at the Experimental Farm, Division of Floriculture and Landscaping, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Main Campus, Chatha, Jammu and Kashmir, during 2024–2025. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) comprising 16 treatment combinations, each replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of four fertilizer regimes, viz., F₁, 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF; 150:125:75 kg NPK ha⁻¹); F₂, 75% RDF + humic acid (HA) at 5 g m⁻²; F₃, 50% RDF + HA at 10 g m⁻²; and F₄, 25% RDF + HA at 15 g m⁻², along with four concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP): B₁, control (no application); B₂, 50 ppm; B₃, 100 ppm; and B₄, 150 ppm. Among the fertilizer regimes, the application of 75% RDF + HA at 5 g m⁻² resulted in the minimum number of days to flower spike emergence (106.61 days), first flowering (147.49 days), and harvesting of flower stems (163.82 days). This treatment also recorded the maximum inflorescence length (6.48 cm), flower longevity (47.81 days), and number of cut flower stems per plant (18.95). Among the BA concentrations, foliar application of 100 ppm BA resulted in the minimum number of days to flower spike emergence (105.98 days), first flowering (148.24 days), and harvesting of flower stems (164.23 days). It also recorded the maximum inflorescence length (6.09 cm), flower longevity (47.93 days), vase life (12.82 days), and number of cut flower stems per plant (17.08). The treatment combination of 75% RDF + HA at 5 g m⁻² + 100 ppm BA recorded the highest benefit–cost ratio of 4.96. The same treatment combination also resulted in the highest gross income (₹29,50,560 ha⁻¹) and net income (₹24,55,620.30 ha⁻¹). The findings indicate that integrating reduced fertilizer application with humic acid soil application and 100 ppm BA foliar application can improve flowering performance and economic returns in statice cultivation.