Combined effect of Humic Acid and NPK on growth and flower development of Tulipa gesneriana in Faislabad, Pakistan

Ahmad Ali1 , Shoaib-Ur-Rehman2 Sami Ul Allah3 , Sajjad Raza4

1 Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-Pakistan 2Organic Plant Production and Agroecosystems Research in the Tropics and Subtropics 3Grassland Science and Renewable Plant Resources, University of Kassel, Steinstr. 19, D-37213 Witzenhausen, Germany 4 Institute of Soil & Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad – Pakistan

Corresponding author; shoaib@uni-kassel.de

Abstract :

A research trial was conducted during 2011-2012 to elucidate the effects of humic acid (HA) and NPK to determine the optimum rate against different growth and floral attributes on Tulip cultivar viz. Triumph, the following five treatments T0 :( control), T1:( 10 g/m2 NPK), T2:(HA @ 0.75 ml + 10 g/m2 NPK), T3 :(HA @ 1.00 ml + 10 g/m2 NPK)and T4 :(HA @ 1.25 ml + 10 g/m2NPK)were applied under randomized complete block design (RCBD) replicated thrice. All the vegetative and reproductive attributes significantly influenced by the addition of humic acid and NPK and obtained results revealed that treatment T4 was the most effective one compared with the other treatments. This treatment gave the inimitable outcomes concerning earliest sprouting and flowering, plant height increment, leaf area expansion, stem diameter, leaf chlorophyll contents, stalk length, vase life, fresh and dry flower biomass, also it increased nutrient contents % comparing with the T3 and T2. In contrast and oppositely, Plants grown without HA and NPK application (control) followed by a single application of NPK (T1) exhibited poor growth with reduced yield of inferior quality. The data obtained in this study conveyed that HA (1.25 ml of 8% Humic Acid) along with NPK application (10 g/m2 NPK) helps to improve the uniform crop stand, plant growth and flower quality of Tulip. Keywords: Tulip cut flower, Humic acid, Plant growth, Nutrient uptake, flower quality.