BAWEJA, H SBAWEJA, H STHAKUR, SHIVANITHAKUR, SHIVANI2021-11-172021-11-172021-112021-11https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810178134ABSTRACT The present investigation titled, “Effect of different organic mulches on different varieties of edible Nasturtium for flowering and nutritional characteristics under mid hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out at the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P) during the period November, 2020 to June, 2021. Studies included two experiments viz., Effect of organic mulches on different varieties of nasturtium for growth, flowering, seed yield and seed quality characteristics and to study effect of organic mulches for the edible and nutritional characteristics of different varieties of nasturtium. Both the experiments were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (factorial) for field observations with three replications and Complete Randomized Design (factorial) for laboratory observations with four replications, comprising four levels of mulches (namely, spent mushroom compost, pine needles and straw along with control) and five varieties (viz., ‘Empress of India’, ‘Spit Fire Orange’, ‘Alaska Mix Variegated’, ‘Jewel of Africa’ and ‘Gleam Scarlet’). Best results with regards to plant height (49.81 cm), plant spread (35.43 cm), number of days for first bud appearance (67.11 days), number of flowers per plant (110.75), leaf area (74.78 cm2), duration of flowering (127.67 days), number of seeds per plant (280.33), seed yield per plant (47.29 g), seed yield per plot (639.36 g), seed yield per hectare (5114.85 kg), 100 seed weight (17.03 g), germination percentage (88.25%), seedling length (26.51 cm), seedling dry weight (22.94 mg), SVI-I (2339.58), SVI-II (2025.15), EC (0.065 dS/m) and ascorbic acid content (73.87 mg/100g) were found in the plants of var. ‘Gleam Scarlet’ mulched with spent mushroom compost. The variety ‘Empress of India’ when grown by mulching the plants with spent mushroom compost (M1) recorded best results w.r.t. total anthocyanin content (110.40 mg/100g) and DPPH antioxidant activity (81.59 %). However, TSS (7.90oB) was found to be maximum in var. ‘Empress of India’ when the plants were grown without any mulch. From the study it is summarized that among the five varieties of nasturtium evaluated, the best performance was observed in var. ‘Gleam Scarlet’ w.r.t. various characteristics of plant growth, flowering, seed yield and quality as well and var. ‘Empress of India’ showed better results with regard to edible and nutritional characteristics. Similarly, the varieties which were grown with spent mushroom compost mulch exhibited better performance for growth, flowering, seed yield, quality and nutritional characteristicsABSTRACT The present investigation titled, “Effect of different organic mulches on different varieties of edible Nasturtium for flowering and nutritional characteristics under mid hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh” was carried out at the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (H.P) during the period November, 2020 to June, 2021. Studies included two experiments viz., Effect of organic mulches on different varieties of nasturtium for growth, flowering, seed yield and seed quality characteristics and to study effect of organic mulches for the edible and nutritional characteristics of different varieties of nasturtium. Both the experiments were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (factorial) for field observations with three replications and Complete Randomized Design (factorial) for laboratory observations with four replications, comprising four levels of mulches (namely, spent mushroom compost, pine needles and straw along with control) and five varieties (viz., ‘Empress of India’, ‘Spit Fire Orange’, ‘Alaska Mix Variegated’, ‘Jewel of Africa’ and ‘Gleam Scarlet’). Best results with regards to plant height (49.81 cm), plant spread (35.43 cm), number of days for first bud appearance (67.11 days), number of flowers per plant (110.75), leaf area (74.78 cm2), duration of flowering (127.67 days), number of seeds per plant (280.33), seed yield per plant (47.29 g), seed yield per plot (639.36 g), seed yield per hectare (5114.85 kg), 100 seed weight (17.03 g), germination percentage (88.25%), seedling length (26.51 cm), seedling dry weight (22.94 mg), SVI-I (2339.58), SVI-II (2025.15), EC (0.065 dS/m) and ascorbic acid content (73.87 mg/100g) were found in the plants of var. ‘Gleam Scarlet’ mulched with spent mushroom compost. The variety ‘Empress of India’ when grown by mulching the plants with spent mushroom compost (M1) recorded best results w.r.t. total anthocyanin content (110.40 mg/100g) and DPPH antioxidant activity (81.59 %). However, TSS (7.90oB) was found to be maximum in var. ‘Empress of India’ when the plants were grown without any mulch. From the study it is summarized that among the five varieties of nasturtium evaluated, the best performance was observed in var. ‘Gleam Scarlet’ w.r.t. various characteristics of plant growth, flowering, seed yield and quality as well and var. ‘Empress of India’ showed better results with regard to edible and nutritional characteristics. Similarly, the varieties which were grown with spent mushroom compost mulch exhibited better performance for growth, flowering, seed yield, quality and nutritional characteristicsEnglishThesis