J.C.MathadAiradevi.P.Angadi2016-11-092016-11-092010http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/84781A field experiment was conducted on red sandy loam soil at Floriculture unit of Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, during kharif 2009-2010 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality of garland chrysanthemum. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with 3 replications and 9 treatment combinations comprising of inorganic fertilizers, organic manures and boifertilizers. The treatment receiving Azospirillum + PSB + 50% vermicompost equivalent to RDN + 50% recommended NPK recorded the highest plant height, number of branches, plant spread, leaf area index, dry matter accumulation and yield attributes such as number of flowers per plant, number of flowers per plot, flower yield/plant, flower yield/plot and flower yield/ha. The early flower bud initiation, 50 per cent flowering and more flowering duration was achieved in the treatment receiving Azospirillum + PSB + 50% vermicompost equivalent to RDN + 50% recommended NPK. Significantly higher available nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) and their uptake by plants was recorded in treatment receiving Azospirillum + PSB + 50% vermicompost equivalent to RDN + 50% recommended NPK. Application of Azospirillum + PSB + 50% vermicompost equivalent to RDN + 50% recommended NPK registered significantly higher quality parameters such as flower diameter, shelf life of loose flowers and vase life of cut flowers. The economic analysis clearly indicated that net returns/ha and B:C ratio was highest in the plots treated with Azospirillum + PSB + 50% vermicompost equivalent to RDN + 50% recommended NPK (Rs. 1,95,135 and 4.23 respectively) and this finding can be used in making garland chrysanthemum production more profitable.HorticultureThesis