Abstract

An experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications to evaluate the effect of mulching on growth and flowering of tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa Linn.) cv. “Double” using different mulching materials. The results revealed that plant growth characters were significantly influenced by black polyethylene mulch (T1) which recorded the highest plant height (103.46 cm), leaf number (106.50), leaf area (92.79 cm2), number of shoots (15.20) and minimum days for emergence of shoots (39.00 days). The flower characters were significantly influenced by dried leaves (T3) which recorded the maximum length of spike (88.28 cm), length of rachis (55.91 cm), number of florets/spike (40.66), self life of spike (21.66 days), self life of floret (8.00 days), vase life of spike (9.00 days), minimum days for emergence of spike (118.10 days), opening of first pair of floret (148.10 days), maximum fresh weight of spike (122.47 g) and dry weight of spike (14.59 g), whereas black polyethylene mulch (T1) exhibited maximum size of floret (6.27 cm), fresh weight of floret (2.54 g) and dry weight of floret (0.26 g).The significantly highest bulb production was exhibited by the treatment T1 (black polyethylene mulch) which recorded maximum weight of clump (470.67 g), number of bulbs (35.20) and maximum number of large (8.30) and medium (17.50) sized bulbs. The treatment T3 produced highest number of small sized bulbs (10.85).