Article Abstract

Volume 36, No. (4), 2026 (August)
MACRO AND MICRONUTRIENTS REGIMES IMPACT GROWTH DYNAMICS OF Lilium L. LA HYBRID BULBLETS
Iqra Summan, Iftikhar Ahmad, Muhammad Usman, Irfan Afzal

I. Summan1,*, I. Ahmad1, *, M. Usman1 and I. Afzal2

1Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan

2Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-38040, Pakistan

Corresponding Author: iftikharahmadhashmi@gmail.com
Published Online First: May 01, 2026
ABSTRACT

Lilium, a member of family Liliaceae, is among top ten highly demanded geophytic cut flowers in global markets; and during recent years, its demand has increased several folds in local markets as well. However, quality bulb production of lilium in different regions of the world is a major limiting factor and nutrients for best quality bulb production needs to be optimized. Therefore, a study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of various macro and micronutrients on bulblet growth and bulb development of Lilium L. LA hybrid cv. ‘Indian Summerset’. Treatments included no additional nutrient application (control), nitrogen (N) (123.5 kg ha-1), phosphorous (P) (148.2 kg ha-1), potassium (K) (148.2 kg ha-1), nitrogen + phosphorous (NP) (123.5:148.2 kg ha-1), nitrogen + potassium (NK) (123.5:148.2 kg ha-1), phosphorous + potassium (PK) (148.2:148.2 kg ha-1), nitrogen + phosphorous + potassium (NPK) (123.5:148.2:148.2 kg ha-1), nitrogen + phosphorous + potassium + secondary elements (NPK + SE) (CaSO4 (Ca) @ 61.75 kg ha-1, MgSO4 (Mg) @ 1.23 kg ha-1, and Sulphur (S) @ 2.5 kg ha-1), nitrogen + phosphorous + potassium + micronutrients (NPK+ Micro) (ZnSO4 (Zn) @ 12.35 kg ha-1, FeSO4 (Fe) @ 2% solution and boric acid (B) @ 2% solution) and nitrogen + phosphorous + potassium + secondary nutrients + micronutrients (NPK + SE + Micro). All treatments were replicated three times with 20 bulblets in each replicate, which were laid out in a randomized complete block design. Application of various nutrients exhibited statistically significant differences regarding various growth and development attributes. Plants supplemented with NPK + SE + Micro produced statistically improved weight (34.4 g) and diameter (36.4 mm) of bulblets. Plants supplemented with NPK + SE + Micro exhibited significantly higher photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance and sub stomatal CO2. Highest leaf SPAD values, greatest leaf N, Mg and S contents were recorded in plants treated with NPK + S.E. Highest leaf P, K, Ca and Zn contents were recorded in plants supplemented with NPK + SE + Micro. Plants fertilized with NPK + Micro produced greatest leaf area and Fe contents. Plants deficit in nutrients exhibited poor growth and bulb development. It is concluded that exogenous application of NPK+ SE + Micro produced superior quality Lilium LA hybrid ‘Indian Summerset’ bulbs compared to other nutrient regimes. Growers and bulb producers may use NPK + SE + Micro in combined form for commercial cultivation and bulb production of Lilium LA hybrid.

Keywords: Bulb production, cut flowers, geophytes, primary nutrients, secondary elements, micronutrients.
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Cite Score: 1.3

JCR Year: 2025

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Web of Science (SCIE)

SCOPUS (Q3)

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Journal Impact Factor: 0.5

HEC Category: W

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Print ISSN: 1018-7081

Electronic ISSN: 2309-8694

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