Cultivation

Cultivation

    Soil
    Scented roses can be grown on a wide range of soils; however they prefer natural, well-drained, sandy loam soil. A pH range between 5.6 to 7.0 is considered favourable for rose cultivation.

    Climate
    Roses thrive well in temperate climate and, for this reason, the Kashmir Valley has been identified as being the most ideal for its cultivation. It can also be cultivated in the subtropical region of North India, where winters are pronounced. It is a photophyllous plant and is sensitive to frost and shade. Low atmospheric humidity during the flowering reduces the essential oil content in the flowers and high temperature leads to abscission of the flower-buds before blooming. Temperature ranging from 0 degree to 5° C for a period of about 15 days prior to the start of blooming enhances the quantity as well as the quality of the flowers. Therefore, regions with high atmospheric humidity (more than 60%) and moderate temperature (15-20° C) at the time of flowering are considered most favourable for a good flower yield. A bright morning condition at the time of flowering is desirable as it prolongs the flowering duration and improves the quality of the oil.

    Preparation of land
    Open lands, free from perennial greases, with gradual slopes, facing south are the most suitable for rose plantations. The land is ploughed deep (30cm) in order to minimize the weeds and finally leveled by planking. Pits of 0.45 cm in good soils and 60 cm in poor soils are dug at a spacing of 1.5m x 1.5 m in temperate conditions, while the plants in the subtropical regions are spaced at 1 m x 1 m. They are filled with about 3 to 4 kg FYM, 20-25 g N, P and K mixture (18:32:16) 20 g Aldrin powder and soil mixture per pit, before planting.

    Propagation
    Scented roses are vegetatively propagated by cuttings. They can also be propagated through the division of old plants, lateral sprouts, with roots and seeds.

    Preparation of nursery
    A mixture of FYM (4:1) is added to the nursery-beds and mixed well into the soil. After leveling the field, P2 O5 and K2 O @ 20:40 kg/ha are also added as inorganic fertilizers.
    The propagation material (cuttings) are taken from healthy, flowering bushed during November-December, usually 25 to 30 cm-long stem-cuttings with one year growth, preferably the anterior portion with four to five nodes of 1 to 2 cm diameter, are taken. The basal end of the cuttings is treated with Indole Butyric Acid (IBA @ 200-250 ppm) solution for four hours before planting, which helps in inducing roots. The beds are frequently irrigated. The cuttings begin to sprout after a month’s time (30 to 35 days) and the beds are kept free from weeds. When the cuttings have attained a height of 10 to 15 cm, a dose of 20 kg N/ha in the form of nitrogenous inorganic fertilizer are applied 4 to 5 cm away from the plants and mixed well into the soil. Monthly spraying of Benlate (0.1%) or Bavistin is done to keep away diseases.
    Rooted cuttings are transplanted into the field after one year from mid-November to mid-January. The rooting percentage of the cuttings from the year-old shoot ranges from 50 to 60% whereas from the other shoots, it is 25 to 30%.

    Transplanting
    Rooted cuttings are uprooted from the nursery and subjected to a treatment of 0.01% Bavistin for five minutes before planting them in the pits. The soil around the plants is compacted and irrigated immediately. Transplanting of rooted cuttings in sub-tropical regions is also done in the same way during July-August.

    Manures and fertilizer
    FYM @ 18-20 t/ha mixed with 100-125 kg N, P and K (18:32:16) mixed with fertilizers should be applied at the time of transplanting the rooted cuttings. Since rose plants remain economically viable for 15-20 years, the soil around the plant must be sufficiently supplied with nutrients. Therefore, the need to apply fertilizer every year is evident. A total of 160 kg/ha N, 80 kg/ha each of P2O5 and K2O, should be applied each year in the form of inorganic fertilizers to get a good yield of flowers.
    Fertilizers should be applied at a depth of 20-30 cm beside the rose-bushes, which is the peripheral zone containing most of the feeding roots. Phosphorus and potash are applied as a basal dose whereas, nitrogen is given in three equal splits during May, July and September. The application of fertilizers along with NAA (20 ppm) spray and 1% micronutrient mixture enhances the flower yield.

    Irrigation
    The crop requires frequent irrigation during the summer months. In all, about 10 to 12 irrigations are required in one year, Irrigation after pruning is necessary in order to protect the sprouting buds from withering away due to loss of water or damage by low temperature or frost. The field may be provided with proper drainage to drain out the excess rain water.

    Inter cultivation
    After every pruning, weeding and hoeing should be done every year in January and February and the soil around the root-zone of each bush should be turned and pulverized well after each hoeing. At least three weedings and hoeing are essential during January and February. The weedicides, Simazine and Atrazine are used to control annual weeds.

    Intercropping
    Pulses and vegetables may be grown as intercrops in rose plantations during the first two years.

    Pruning and training
    Rose plants require a dormant or resting period before flowering. Hence, pruning is an essential operation for obtaining a good flower yield. Its intensity and shape vary with the age of the plant. The first pruning is done after plant attains two years of age of the plant. The first pruning is done after the plant attains two years of age. At 1050 m height from the ground-level, shoots and branches are removed with the help of secateurs, leaving 8 to 10 primary branches in the shape of an umbrella. Whatever shoots appear during the growth phase are also removed, as they do not bear flowers. The time for pruning is during the first week of November to early December in temperate climates. In subtropical climates, heavy pruning at 30-45 cm of the plant-height is done during December-January and the soil around the base of the rose plants is dug up to bare the primary roots which facilitates the chilling of roots and, in February, the soil is again heaped at the base of the plant. The plants take about 70 to 90 days to flower after pruning. The other purpose of pruning is to train plants in the desired form, to keep the desired size, to remove injured and diseased parts, to remove the terminal buds and change the growth habit, to encourage bushy roses, to provide more horizontal expansion and finally to produce more flower-buds.

Last modified: Wednesday, 4 April 2012, 9:27 AM