The research conducted in Holland found that the higher the K amount, the Gladiolus have more flowers and healthier bulbs
|
Crop/cultivar |
Gladiolus/ Traderhorn | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Country / location | Holland / LBO trial station @ Lisse (flower-bulb research center) | |||
| Objectives | Long-term research (1994-1997) intended to: Find best K and N S.D. regime. Learn K uptake by the plant | |||
| Haifa product tested | Multi-KMg prill | |||
| Application method | Side dressing , soil application | |||
| Tested treatment | 4 x S.D. @ 230, 465, 700 or 930 Kg/Ha Multi-KMg | |||
| Control treatment results | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | |
| Mean bulb weight (g) | 36.4 | 31.2 | 29.1 | |
| Bloom rate (%) | 55.4 | |||
| Botrytis infection rate (1-10 scale) | 6.3 | |||
| Fusarium infection rate (%) | 0.93 | |||
| Best treatment results | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | |
| Mean bulb weight (g) | 41.6 | 35.1 | 29.4 | |
| Bloom rate (%) | 72.3 | |||
| Botrytis infection rate (1-10 scale) | 2.0 | |||
| Fusarium infection rate (%) | 0.0 | |||
| Characteristics of best treatment | Yield increase: 1-13%. Grower’s revenue from yield: depends on bulb size and variety Cost of treatment (application + material) 250 US$/Ha |
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| Net benefit of best treatment | 400 US$/Ha | |||
| Benefit/Cost ratio | 1.6 | |||
| Conclusions | General: Gladiolus is a relatively high K demanding crop, it can be regarded as a target crop. The higher the K amount, the more flowers & healthier bulbs. Bulb size: on previous years there was found a positive effect. It did not show this year. Best results can be expected from treatments at the latter growth stages - August onward. |
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| Reference | M. Roelofs; Mr. Bruin, LBO trial Station | |||
