Agricultural Sciences: Techniques and Innovations Vol. 9

Statice (Limonium sinuatum L.) is an important ornamental crop widely valued for its attractive flowers. However, its growth, flower yield, and quality are greatly influenced by agronomic practices such as plant spacing and seedling age, which regulate resource utilisation and physiological efficiency under specific agro-climatic conditions. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different seedling ages and plant spacing on the growth, flower yield, and quality of statice under Prayagraj agro-climatic conditions. The study was carried out at the experimental field, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agriculture Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P.), India during the Rabi season 2021-2022. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with 8 treatments, which were replicated thrice. The treatments consisted of four seedling ages: T1 (25 days), T2 (30 days), T3 (35 days), and T4 (40 days), and two plant spacings: S1 (45 × 60 cm) and S2 (30 × 45 cm), resulting in eight treatment combinations. The data were subjected to statistical analysis using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. In growth parameters, T₇ (40-day seedlings + spacing of 45×60 cm) recorded the significantly highest number of leaves (80.49), leaf length (32.20 cm), and plant spread (45.65 cm²). Whereas, plant height was recorded significantly highest (84.80 cm) in T₆ (35 days seedlings + spacing of 30×45 cm). In photosynthetic characteristics, the maximum leaf area (66.09 cm²), leaf weight (24.94 gm), and chlorophyll content (97.90 SPAD UNITS) was recorded in T₇ (40 days seedlings + spacing 45×60 cm). In flowering parameters, the minimum number of days for flower stalk initiation (47.28 days) and flower duration (45.72 days) was recorded significantly in T₇ (40 days seedlings + spacing of 45×60 cm), whereas the length of flower stalk was recorded significantly highest (80.07) in T₆ (35 days seedlings + spacing of 30×45 cm). The maximum yield with superior quality of flower stalks/plot was obtained significantly highest (80.22) in T₆ (35 days seedlings + spacing of 30×45 cm). In post-harvest parameters, the vase life of statice flowers placed in water recorded maximum (8.69 days) in T₆ (35 days seedlings + spacing 30x45 cm), whereas vase life of statice flowers placed in 2% sucrose (14.35 days) and shelf life (63.33 days) of flower was recorded maximum in T₇ (40 days seedlings + spacing of 45x60 cm). The study revealed that both seedling age and plant spacing significantly affect the growth, yield, and quality of statice. Transplanting 35-day-old seedlings at a spacing of 30 × 45 cm is most suitable for achieving higher yield and better quality flower stalks, while 40-day-old seedlings at wider spacing (45 × 60 cm) are recommended for improved vegetative growth and post-harvest longevity.