Lilium Manual

KFBioplants Pvt. Ltd.

This is for information only. We do not take responsibility of the performance of the product on issue of this growing manual.

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Lilium Cultivation
INTRODUCTION: The genus Lilium (Lilium michiganense) are herbaceous flowering plants normally growing from bulbs, comprising of genus of about 110 species in the lily family Liliaceae. It is native from the northern temperate regions. The species in this genus are the true lilies while the other plants with lily in the common name are related to the other groups of plants. Lilies are usually erect leafy stemmed herbs. The majority of species form tunic less scaly underground bulbs from which they gives flowers. The large flowers have three petals along with three petals like sepals. CLIMATE: 1. TEMPERATURE: It is essential to provide an initial temperature of 12 to13C until stem roots have developed. During the cultivation stage the optimum daily temperature requirement is between 15 to 22C Temperature below 15C can result in bud drop and yellowing of the foliage in oriental hybrids. 2. HUMIDITY: Optimum level of Relative Humidity inside the greenhouse should be 80 to 85 %. It is important to avoid large fluctuation in humidity levels which will cause stress and leaf scorch in susceptible varieties. 3. CO2: has a positive effect on the growth and flowering of lilies. Try to achieve a concentration of 800 to 1000 ppm. A higher concentration (2000ppm) is needed for the Longiflorum hybrids as this group needed high levels of CO2. 4. LIGHT INTENSITY: Light affect the growth of lilium and their development. Depending on the time of year, the location of production, amount of light penetrating in greenhouse and the variety, lighting may even be essential. The insufficient minimum light intensity in the greenhouse for Asiatic hybrids is 190 Joules/cm2. Insufficient light results in inadequate growth bud drop. Asiatic hybrids are most susceptible to bud drop as compared to oriental and longiflorum. 5. SHADING NET: To achieve these temperatures shading net is a must. Not only to reduce temperatures; but also to avoid leaf scorching on the plant, one should not compromise on installing proper shading net. The percentage of shading depends on the light conditions at the site and time of the year. Ideal is a movable shading net, one that opens or closes depending on the light conditions (summer/ monsoon). A cheaper option is to go for a 50% agro white shade net, which should be fixed on top of the polyfilm. During the monsoon the same can be removed depending on the light conditions at that time. 6. VENTILATION: The disadvantage of polyfilm is that underneath poly a lot of heat is building up. Temperature can rise to record high if no provision is made for proper ventilation. It is advisable to build a structure with a top ventilation gap of minimum 3 feet to have proper ventilation inside the greenhouse. Depending on design and size of the greenhouse one can have a provision for side ventilation as well. If the distance from side to center of the greenhouse is less than 30 feet, side ventilation in combination with top ventilation can be recommended. Never close the sides completely, as to keep the natural airstreams flowing. WATER QUALITY 2 of 8

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Ec of irrigation water should be 0.5 mS/cm or lower. The maximum acceptable Chlorine level of irrigation water used for greenhouse irrigation is 200 ppm. BEDDING MEDIA 1. SOIL: The soil; used for cultivation of lilies, has good structure particularly the top layers and is also kept well drained during the entire growing period. Maintaining the correct pH of the soil plays a major role in the root development and uptake of nutrients. It is advisable to maintain a pH of 6 to 7 for the Asiatic and longiflorum hybrid groups and a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 for the oriental hybrids. The Chlorine in the soil should not exceed 1.5 mmol/lit. Bed composition: Red soil : 60% FYM : 30% Sand : 10% Rice husk : As per requirement 2. COCO PEAT: Coco peat requirement- 19 kg/m2 BED PREPERATION:Bed layout: For soil and coco peat media.

25cm
1m 40cm

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PLANTING DEPTH: Lilium bulbs should initially be planted at a depth of 6 inches. After planting and irrigation the soil will decline about an inch. Height of the bulb is approx one inch, which leaves four inches of soil on top of the bulb. This is sufficient soil in which the stem roots can develop. Shallow planting will result in poor stem root development and hence one compromise on the quality of the flower. Planting depth varies according to the size of the bulb. Generally bulb should be planted to the depth of three times more than the diameter of the bulb. PLANTING DENSITY: Bulb Size 8 -10 cm 10 - 12 cm 12 - 14 cm 14 - 16 cm Bulbs/m2 49 42 36 36 Planting Distance (cm) 1515 1615 16 18 1618

IRRIGATION: Moisten the soil a few days before planting to enable rooting to start straight after planting. Because the stem roots develop in the top layer, it must be kept constantly moist. The amount of water depends on type of soil, greenhouse climate and the variety. Water requirement in summer : 6 to 8 lit / m2 / day Water requirement in other season : 4 to 5 lit / m2 / day First two weeks irrigation only by using water can or shower. Third week onwards it is recommended to use drip for irrigation. Irrigation layout

Dripper Bulb

20cm

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FERTIGATION: 1. Soil: Since lilium is a bulbous crop, most of its nutrients are already present in the bulb itself. Lilium is a very salt sensitive crop and therefore one should take care with applying fertilizers. Especially in the first three weeks when the rooting takes place, no additional fertilizers are required. Good root development is important at this stage. It is however advisable to apply 12:61:00@ 2kg/100m2 at least one week before plantation. - Three weeks after plantation: - Calcium Nitrate @ 1 kg/100m2 - Six week after plantation : - Potassium nitrate @ 1 kg/100m2 If plants are not strong enough during growing period due to Nitrogen deficiency then a top dressing of Ammonium Nitrate@ 1 kg/100 m2 can be applied up to three weeks before harvesting. 2. Nutrient Standards for Coco peat Media: Nutrients Nitrogen Phosphate Potash Calcium Magnesium Sulphate N=(NO3,NH4) P K Ca Mg SO4 Standards In mmol/lit Asiatic Hybrids Oriental Hybrids 2.0 3.0 0.15 0.15 1.0 1.3 1.5 1.8 0.8 1.0 1.5 1.5

Fertilizer requirement in kg / 1000 lit of water for A and B tank: 'A' Tank Fertilizer Grade Fertilizer Requirement (kg/ 1000lit water) Asiatic Oriental Calcium Nitrate 69 76 Ammonium Nitrate 9 7 Potassium nitrate 22 17 'B' Tank Fertilizer Grade Fertilizer Requirement (kg/ 1000lit water) Asiatic Oriental Potassium Nitrate 51 48 Magnesium Sulphate 49 52 Borax 0.5 0.5 HARVESTING and POST HARVEST TREATMENT FOR FLOWERS: 1. Always harvest the lilies at the cutting stage, i.e. 8 to 10 cm above the ground when lower first bud shows the colour of flower. 2. Prevent the stems drying out during and after harvesting. 3. After harvesting, stems are graded according to number of flower buds per stem, length and firmness of stem. 5 of 8

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4. During bunching, remove 10 cm of foliage from the end of the stems and subsequently sleeve the flowers. 5. Immediately after bunching, the cut flowers should be placed in cold water in cold storage room at 2C to 3C. Add 2% sucrose and 100ppm GA3 as a preservative agent to water to improve vase life of flower. 6. When dispatching lily flowers use only perforated boxes to maintain a proper temperature during transport. Procedure for post harvest treatment of the bulbs: 1. Reduce the frequency of irrigation water. Maintain soil moisture level in such a way that bulb scales should not dry out. Excessive moisture may lead to rotting of bulbs. 2. Allow bulbs to remain in the beds for 4 to 5 weeks (above ground stem portion should dry out and can be pulled out from bulb easily). 3. After 5 weeks remove the bulbs from soil along with dried stem. 4. Remove dried stem carefully without damaging the bulb. 5. Wash bulbs with clean water and treat with 2% Bavistin solution for 10 minutes. 6. Remove the bulb from solution and air dry in shade. Too much drying may lead to loosen root skin. Such bulbs; after planting may develop root rot. 7. Immediately after air drying pack the bulbs in plastic crates with moist coco peat wrapped with perforated plastic sleeves. 8. Coco peat used for packing must be sterilized. 9. Keep the crates in cold storage at 20C for 2 weeks and then at -10C for 6 weeks. 10. Keep crates open for one day in cold storage and then close with plastic sleeves. Diseases Penicillium Symptoms During storage; rotting spots covered first with white and later on with fluffy bluish green fungus are visible on the scales. Affected bulbs produce plants with retarded growth. and Underground brown spots on top and side of bulb. Later on start to rot. Retarded growth. Pale foliage. Control Measure Store the bulbs at the lowest recommended temp. Keep soil moist. Remove infected scales.

Bulbs Scale rot

Soil disinfection. Maintain lowest possible soil and greenhouse temp. Remove infected scales. Fusarium stem Premature yellowing of the lower Soil disinfection. Maintain disease leaves which turn brown and then lowest possible soil and green drops to orange to dark brown house temp. spots on stem.

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Rhizoctonia

Phytophthora

Pythium

Botrytis

Sunken light brown spots on leaves and first leaves above ground rotted. Wilted and leaving brown scars on stem. Retarded growth, wilting of foliage, stem base- dark green to dark brown in color spreading upwards, leaves become yellow. Plants remain short, pale foliage; flower bud desiccation and bud drop takes place. Smaller flowers. Transparent light brown rotting spots on bulbs. Stem roots are completely limpy and watery. Small, dark brown spots on foliage. Infected tissue gradually dies off. Raised area on buds, bud rotting, deformed development on opened flower grey, watery, round spots.

Keep soil temp below 15C. Soil disinfection before planting bulbs with food root system. Soil disinfection. Ensure that soil is well drained. Maintain soil temp during summer months. Soil disinfection. Maintain a low soil temp. No excessive water soil drenching of Ridomil @2.5gm/lit.

Pest Aphids

Keep crop dry by adjusting plant density Weed control Irrigation in morning Alternate spraying captaf @ 2gm+Bavistin @ 2gm per lit. OR Bavistin @ 2gm + Dithane M45 @ 2gm per lit. Symptoms Control Measure Upper leaves are curled and Weed control, spray with deformed. Green spots on young chloropyriphos @ 2ml per lit. buds; flower could be deformed OR and remain partially green. Nuvan @ 1ml per lit.

NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY: 1) Iron (Fe): Symptoms: The leaf tissue between the veins of young leaves becomes yellowish-green, particularly in plants with rapid growth. The greater the iron deficiency the more yellow plant will become. Control: Soil should be well drained with low pH level Chelated- Fe should be applied 2-3 gm/m2 before planting and maximum 2 gm per m2 after planting. 2) Nitrogen (N): Symptoms: The whole leaf becomes lighter in colour and this is often more noticeable when plants are about to bloom. The plant often seems rather slight in appearance. Soil with a low nitrogen level produce a crop with stems which are lighter in weight and have less flower buds. The foliage in the vase will turn yellow more quickly. Control: 7 of 8

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Always apply sufficient quantities of nitrogen, preferably based on the results of soil sample. If the nitrogen deficiency is diagnosed during cultivation apply an additional rapid action nitrogen fertilizer. However, bear the risk of leaf scorch in mind during this procedure and make sure the crop is always washed off thoroughly.

ABNORMALITIES: 1. Leaf Scorch: Cause: Leaf scorch occurs when there is a disturbance in the balance between absorption and evaporation of water. This is the result of inadequate absorption or evaporation which causes a calcium deficiency in the cells of the youngest leaves. Cells are destroyed and die. A sudden change in the relative humidity inside the greenhouse can affect this process related to poor root system and high salt level in the soil. Large bulbs are more susceptible than smaller one. Control: Disease and pest which could damage the roots should be controlled effectively. Soil should be moistened before planting. It is better not to use susceptible varieties but if this can not be avoided do not use a larger Bulbs as these are extra sensitive. Plant bulbs with a good root system. Plant to an adequate depth i.e. allow 6 to 10cm of soil on top of the bulb. Prevent large differences in greenhouse temperature and air humidity levels during period of increased susceptibility. Try to maintain RH level of approx. 75%. Rapid growth must be prevented. Ensure that plants maintain even transpiration and avoid excess transpiration by shading. 2. Bud drop and bud desiccation:Cause: Bud drop occurs when plants receive insufficient light. In light deficient conditions the stamens in the bud produce ethylene causing the bud to abort. There is an increased risk of bud desiccation if rooting conditions are poor, e.g. too dry soil. Control: Do not allow; varieties susceptible to bud drop to grow in poor light conditions. To prevent bud desiccation bulbs should be allowed to dry out during planting. Ensure that the bulbs root well and grow in the most favorable conditions possible particularly as far as lighting and transpiration are concerned.

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