Effect of Nutrient Management and Bioregulators on Growth, Flowering and Yield of Marigold (Tagetes Erecta L.) Cv. Pusa Narangi Gainda

Abstract

An experimented entitled “Effect of nutrient management and bioregulators on growth, flowering and yield of Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) cv. Pusa Narangi Gainda.” was carried out at Horticultural Research Centre (HRC) of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture & Technology, Meerut, (UP) during winter season of 2017-2018. Among the treatments applied in the study, maximum plant height, plant spread, number of branches per plant, earliest flower bud initiation, days taken to opening of first flower, duration of flowering, length of flower stalk, diameter of flower, number of flowers per plant, weight of flower, flower yield, maximum gross/net return and cost: benefit ratio were recorded with the application of treatment T9 (100% R.D of NPK (100 kg N, 75 kg P and 75 kg K) + 25 % R.D of Vermicompost (17.85 q/ha) + GA3 100 ppm followed by, T8 (100% R.D of NPK (100 kg N, 75 kg P and 75 kg K) + 25% R.D of FYM (50 q/ha) + GA3 100 ppm) and minimum values exhibited by control. The highest population of bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes and organic carbon were recorded under the treatment T3 (100% R.D of NPK (100 kg N, 75 kg P and 75 kg K) + 25% R.D of FYM (50 q/ha), while highest microbial organic carbon was recorded under the treatment T4 (100% R.D of NPK (100 kg N, 75 kg P and 75 kg K) + 25 % R.D of Vermicompost). Based on the results obtained from the present study, it may be concluded that, application of T9 (100% R.D of NPK (100 kg N, 75 kg P and 75 kg K) + 25 % R.D of Vermicompost (17.85 q/ha) + GA3 100 ppm) was found to be most effective in improving the economic growth, flower and yield, while the treatment T3 (100 % RDF and 25 % % RD of FYM) found superior in terms of biological properties of harvested soil of marigold cv. Pusa Narangi Gainda under the agro-climatic conditions of western Uttar Pradesh.