EFFECT OF PLANTING DATES ON GROWTH, FLOWERING AND SEED PRODUCTION OF SELECTED RAINY SEASON ANNUALS
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Date
2024-08-17
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UHF Nauni
Abstract
The present investigation titled, “Effect of planting dates on growth, flowering and seed production of
selected rainy season annuals” was carried out at the Khaltoo Experimental Farm, Department of Seed Science
and Technology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, HP, India during 2020-21
and 2021-22. The experiment comprising 24 treatment combinations (3 planting dates and 8 rainy season
annuals) was laid out in Randomized Completely Block Design (factorial) having three replications. To
undertake the said study, eight rainy season annuals namely zinnia (tall), zinnia (dwarf), balsam, gomphrena
‘Pink’, gomphrena ‘Magenta’, cosmos, African marigold and China aster planted on three different dates (3rd
June, 3rd July and 3rd August). The observations were recorded on various parameters of growth (plant height
(cm), plant spread (cm)), flowering (days taken for flower bud initiation (days), days taken for flowering (days),
duration of flowering (days), flower size (cm), number of flowers per plant, flower yield per plant (g) and flower
yield per plot (g)) and seed yield and quality (seed yield per plant (g), seed yield per plot (g), seed germination
(%), seedling length (cm), seedling fresh weight (mg), seedling dry weight (mg), seed vigour index–I, seed
vigour index–II and seed electrical conductivity (dS/m). Among the planting dates, 3rd June planting (D1) had
exhibited maximum values for plant height (cm), plant spread (cm), duration of flowering (days), flower size
(cm), number of flowers per plant, flower yield per plant (g) and flower yield per plot (g), seed yield per plant
(g), seed yield per plot (g), seed germination (%), seedling length (cm), seedling fresh weight (mg), seedling dry
weight (mg), seed vigour index–I, seed vigour index–II and lowest seed electrical conductivity (dS/m)
including highest B:C ratio, irrespective of the selected rainy season annuals. Whereas, earliest flower bud
initiation and flowering was obtained in D3 (3rd August Planting), irrespective of the type of rainy season
annuals evaluated. As regards the effects of selected annuals, maximum values for plant height (cm) and flower
size (cm) was observed in zinnia (tall), plant spread (cm) and duration of flowering (days) in gomphrena ‘Pink’,
earliest days taken for flower bud initiation and flowering (days), maximum values for number of flowers,
flower yield per plant (g), flower yield per plot (g), seed yield per plant (g) and seed yield per plot (g) in balsam,
maximum values for seed germination (%), seedling length (cm), seedling fresh weight (mg), seedling dry
weight (mg), seed vigour index–I and seed vigour index–II were obtained in cosmos, irrespective of the
planting dates tested.