Abstract
The effect of different mulching materials such as transparent plastic sheet, rice straw and black plastic sheet was investigated on growth and flowering of Freesia cv. Aurora. There were four treatments, i.e. rice straw, white plastic sheet (transparent PS), black plastic sheets (black PS), and control (no mulching) and each treatment was replicated thrice. The results showed that time to germination was decreased and germination percentage was significantly improved by black mulch as compared to control in freesia plants. Straw mulch produced maximum plant height; earlier flower emergence, highest number of flower spikes per plant, floret per spike and flowers per plant. Maximum flower diameter was also observed in black polythene mulch. From the results of this experiment it can be concluded that black plastic mulch triggers plant growth and development (vegetative growth) while straw mulch encourages flower production both qualitatively and quantitatively in freesia plants.