Standardization of Growing Substrates and NPK Doses for Growth and Flowering of Alstroemeria (alstroemeria Hybrida L.)

Investigations were carried out during 2010 to standardize growing substrates and NPK doses for growth and flowering of alstroemeria. In this experiment different growing substrates and NPK doses combinations were tested. A field experiment was laid under poly house conditions in split plot design, consisted of four growing substrates viz., sand: soil: FYM (1:1:1, v/v), rhododendron forest soil (Rhododendron arboreum L.), rai forest soil (Picea smithiana L.) and five NPK doses viz., basal dose of 30: 15: 30 g/m2, once a week fertigation with 100: 50: 100 ppm, twice a week fertigation with 100: 50: 100ppm, once a week fertigation with 150: 100: 150 ppm, twice a week fertigation with 150: 100: 150 ppm. Growing substrate consisting of rhododendron forest soil was found to be best growing substrate for vegetative and flowering parameters like stem length, stem thickness, early flowering, number of flowers per cyme, vase life and cut stems per plant. Whereas twice a week fertigation with 150: 100: 150 ppm NPK found best dose for stem length, stem thickness, early flowering, number of flowers per stem, vase life and cut stems per plant.