Effect of different varietal performance and various levels of nitrogen on growth and flowering characters on China aster (callistephus chinensis l. Ness) under north Gujarat condition

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during rabi 2020 to study deals with effect of different varietal performance and various levels of nitrogen on growth and flowering characters on China aster (callistephus chinensis l. Ness) under north Gujarat condition. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with factorial concept using ten treatments, comprising two varieties (Arka Archana and Arka Kamini) and five levels of nitrogen (140, 180, 220, 260 and 300 kg/ha). The results revealed that among various treatments, The highest plant height (47.12 cm) was recorded in Arka Kamini. While, Arka Archana gave the maximum number of primary branches (15.04 cm), plant spread 48.07 and 40.62 cm in N-S & E-W, respectively. Minimum days for bud initiation (50.40 days), days for flower initiation (59.27 days), flower weight (3.99 g), flower diameter (6.33 cm) and shelf life of flower (6.22 days) were significantly the maximum in Arka Archana. All the vegetative, flowering and yield characters were significantly influenced by nitrogen application 300 kg/ha. The maximum plant height (46.20 cm), number of primary branches per plant (16.77) and plant spread (47.53 and 41.23 cm) in N-S & E-W respectively, weight of flower (4.24 g), flower diameter (6.79 cm) was the highest application at 300 kg N/ha. Flowering parameter such as minimum days taken to bud initiation (57.37 days), minimum days taken to flower initiation (66.77 days) and longest shelf life of flower (6.07 days) were observed with application of nitrogen 140 kg/ha.