Effect of nutrients, pinching and spacing on growth, flowering and yield of African marigold
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Date
2014
Authors
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Publisher
CCSHAU
Abstract
The present investigation was carried out during 2013-14 with a view to standardize the
optimum dose of nitrogen and phosphorus, pinching and different spacing with regard to growth,
flowering and yield in African marigold. To achieve these objectives two independent experiments
were laid out.
In experiment 1, nutrient requirement of African marigold was studied with five levels of
nitrogen (0, 15, 20, 25 and 30 g/m2) and four levels of phosphorus (0, 15, 20 and 25 g/m2) in all
possible combinations. Maximum growth in terms of plant height, plant spread, number of branches
per plant, fresh and dry weight of plant was observed at 30 g nitrogen with 25 g phosphorus/m2.
Various flowering parameters viz. number of buds per plant, number of flowers per plant, days to 50 %
flowering, duration of flowering, flower diameter and stalk length and flower yield parameters viz.
flowers yield per plant and yield per ha were obtained maximum at 30 g nitrogen with 25 g
phosphorus/m2.
In pinching experiment the plants were without pinching and pinched 28 days after
transplanting (DAT). Pinching the plants at 28 DAT significantly increased the number of branches,
plant spread, fresh and dry weight of the plant, number of buds per plant, duration of flowering,
number of flowers per plant, stalk length, and flower yield per plant and flower yield per hectare and
decreased plant height, diameter of flower, fresh and dry weight of the flower and delayed bud
initiation, days to flowering, days to 50 % flowering.
The effect of spacing at three levels 40 x 40 cm, 40 x 30cm, 30 x 30cm were also studied and
observed maximum plant spread, number of branches, fresh and dry weight, days to bud initiation ,
days to flowering, number of buds/planr, number of flowers/plant, duration of flowering, diameter of
flower, fresh and dry weight of flower, flower yield/ plant in 40 x 40cm whereas maximum plant
height, days to 50% flowering, stalk length, flower yield/ha were observed in 30 x30cm.
Description
Keywords
Developmental stages, Planting, Pruning, Nitrogen, Spacing, Yields, Biological development, Planting equipment, budding, Research methods