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The experiment was conducted at the Orchid house, Department of Botany, Panjab University, Chandigarh, during the period from February-April, 2018 to study the growth performance of a floriculturally important epiphytic orchid, Dendrobium chrysanthum Wall. Ex Lindl. under the influence of different NPK spray concentrations. In the present investigation, four spray formulations: spray formulation T1 (N:P:K=50:12.5:50), spray formulation T2 (N:P:K=100:25:50), spray formulation T3 (N:P:K=150:25:100), and spray formulation T4 (N:P:K=200:37.5:100) were used along with a control (water). The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications of each treatment. Spray formulations had significant influence on growth of presently tested species. Spray treatment T4 (NPK=200:37.5:100) showed highest number of leaves (20.42±0.41) while minimum number of leaves (7.95±0.19) were observed on use of spray of simple water. Spray treatment T3 (NPK=150:25:100) and spray treatment T1 (NPK=50:12.5:50) showed maximum (13.37±0.44 cm) and minimum (9.23±0.04 cm) length of leaves, respectively. Also, maximum width of leaves (3.53±0.35 cm) was observed in species treated with spray treatment T3 (NPK=150:25:100) whereas the minimum width of leaves (1.43±0.07 cm) was observed on the species treated by spray treatment T1 (NPK=50:12.5:50). Spray treatment T3 (NPK=150:25:100) showed maximum height of plant (38.93±0.45 cm), while the minimum height of plant (11.55±0.02 cm) was observed on spray treatment T1 (NPK=50:12.5:50). Spray treatment T4 (NPK=200:37.5:100) showed maximum stem width (10.99±0.20 cm), while the minimum stem width (5.39±0.27 cm) was observed on spray of simple water. In most of the parameters, control had shown the minimum results. Further investigation needs to be undertaken so as to find out the efficacy of different NPK spray formulations on both vegetative and reproductive stages of Dendrobium chrysanthum and other related species.

https://doi.org/10.64873/JOSI.v34.i1-2.117-121