. I JournalofOrnamental Horticulture, 11(2).. 127-130, 2008 Effect of organic culture on growth, development and post harvest life of gladiolus (Gladiolus hybrida) PRABHAT KUMAR, RAUSHAN KUMAR AND AJIT KUMAR Department of Horticulture, Ballabh Pant Univ. of Agri. &Tech., Pantnagar-263145, Uttarakhand (India) ABSTRACT The present investigations were carried out at Model Floriculture Centre, Department of Horticulture, G.B.P.U.A. & T., Pantnagar, during 2006-07. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications, with two biostimulants viz Panchagavya and Manchurian Mushroom Tea. The treatment combination of Panchagavya 4% + Manchurian Mushroom Tea 2% (T7) recorded significantly highest value of plant height (55.73 cm), highest number of leaves (6.87) per plant, maximum number of days (3.11) taken by basal floret from showing colour to fully open stage and total number of florets/spike (16.50). Panchagavya 2% (T1)significantly influenced the spike length (86.19 cm), spike weight (78.83 g), corm size (5.16 cm) and corm weight (43.75 g). Whereas, Panchagavya 4% + Manchurian Mushroom Tea4% (T8)improved the floret size (9.32 cm) as well as better vase life (8.33 days) of cut spikes. Key words: Gadiolus, organic culture INTRODUCTION Among the leading cut flower crops in the international trade, gladiolus occupies a prime position. The market loss of cut flowers due to inefficient post harvest management in India is estimated to be around 20-40 per cent. The immense commercialization of agriculture has a '{ery negative impact on the environment. It a'iso affects the health of farm workers and florists as well, who are dealing with them. Biofertilizers and organic farming have the capability to take care of each of these problems. Besides this, organic culture also has good , impact on the quality flower production. It can , also greatly help a farmer to become self- sufficient in his requirement for agro-inputs. Hence in the present organic era, there is an urgent need for effective increase in the production and improvement in the quality and longevity of flowers through organic culture, MATERIALS AND METHODS The present investigations were conducted at Model FloricultureCentre,Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagarduring 2006-07. Parameters like plant height (cm), number of leaves, number of days to spike emergence, spike length (em), spike weight (g), number of florets/spike, vase life of flowers (days), number of corms, corm weight (g) and number, of cormlets per plant were , recorded at the Model Floriculture Centre (MFC) and Post-Graduate Laboratory, Department of Horticulture.pantnagar is geographicallysituated in the rarai region at the foot hills of Himalayas at 29°N latitude and 79.3°E longitude and at an altitude of 243.83 meters above the mean sea level. Details of Technical Programme Variety Growing conditions Plot size Spacing Treatments T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 Peter Pears Sunny area 2 m x 2.1 m 30 cm x 20 cm 9 Panchagavya 2% Panchagavya 4% Manchurian Mushroom Tea 2% Manchurian Mushroom Tea 4% T1+ T3 T1+ T4 T2+ T3