DHIMAN, S.R.SULTANPURI, ARSHI2018-05-192018-05-192018-04http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810046747ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted to evaluate the economics and profitability of carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) production influenced by planting dates and cultivars. Three commercial carnation cultivars, viz. ‘Dumas’, ‘Kiro’ and ‘Master’ and seven planting dates starting from 15th October to 15th April at monthly intervals were undertaken in split-plot design for investigation at the Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture, Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan. The cultivar ‘Dumas’ was found to be most profitable over ‘Kiro’ and ‘Master’ with maximum plant height (83.18 cm), stem length (78.70 cm), bud length (34.93 mm), bud width (21.55 mm), maximum flower diameter (8.29 cm), number of cut flower stems per plant (7.04) and cut flower stems per meter square (175.87). April 2015 planting showed maximum plant height (88.57 cm), stem length (84.00 cm), bud length (42.05 mm), number of cut flower stems per plant (7.19), cut flower stems per meter square (179.74) and duration 34.52 days). Highest gross returns were obtained from cultivar ‘Dumas’ (Rs. 210856.70/500m2) when planted in the month of April 2015 followed by March 2015 (Rs. 206801.50/500m2) planting of the same cultivar. The cultivar ‘Dumas’ resulted in maximum benefit cost ratio of 4.05:1 and 4.16:1 respectively. The March 2015 planting was identified as the best planting time over other plantings with highest cumulative returns to produce desired quantity and quality flowers to meet the growing domestic as well as international demand.ennullThesis