Effect of Humic Acid Levels on the Production of Gladiolus Cultivars
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53560/PPASB(62-4)1121Keywords:
Bulbous Crops, Flowering, Gladiolus, Humic Acid, Vase LifeAbstract
Gladiolus is a valuable ornamental crop, widely cultivated for its aesthetic appeal and commercial demand. However, its growth and flowering performance are often hindered by poor soil fertility and suboptimal nutrient management, which needs to be optimized for its commercial production under the agroclimatic conditions of Peshawar, Pakistan. Humic acid is a natural organic substance and is known to enhance soil properties and improve plant growth. Therefore, this experiment was conducted under RCBD split plot arrangement to evaluate the different humic acid levels and their influence on five different gladiolus cultivars. Results indicated that both humic acid and cultivars significantly influenced vegetative and reproductive attributes. The humic acid at the rate of 4 kg ha⁻¹ treatment was most effective, resulting in improved emergence, number of leaves, leaf area, spike emergence, 1st floret opening, florets per spike, field flower persistence, vase life, corm weight, and number of cormels. Enhanced performance was attributed to better nutrient uptake, chlorophyll synthesis, hormonal balance, and source–sink relationships under humic acid supplementation. Among cultivars, ‘White Prosperity’ showed superior vegetative growth and cormel production, while ‘Priscilla’ had longer vase life and heavier corms, indicating genetic differences in nutrient use and reproductive efficiency. The results show that humic acid not only promotes vegetative growth but also accelerates floral initiation, increases floret production, delays senescence, and enhances postharvest quality. It is concluded that humic acid at the rate of 4 kg ha⁻¹, in cultivars White Prosperity and Priscilla, was optimal for commercial gladiolus cultivation under Peshawar’s agro-climatic conditions.
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