Effect of Growth Regulators on Plant Growth and Flower Yield in Marigold (Tagetes erecta)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out in the Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj. During rabi season (2022-2023). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of different growth regulators on plant growth, flowering and flower yield of African marigold and to estimate the economics of different treatments. This experiment was laid out in Randomized block design (RBD) with 10 treatments and each treatment replicated thrice. The treatments consist of different combinations of plant growth regulators (Gibberellic acid, Salicylic acid and Sea weed extract). Treatment T3 (Gibberellic acid @150ppm) was statistically significant compared to other treatment combination, which recorded highest plant height (44.11 cm), no. of branches (43.53), stem diameter (1.61 cm), no. of leaves (118.93), plant spread (37.17 cm2), Bud length (0.93cm), days to 1st flowering (66.07 days), Size of flower (8.77cm), Number of flower per plant (34.10), Self-life (8.67 days), single flower wt. (18.28 g) in African marigold (Tagetes erecta). The economics estimation revealed that maximum benefit cost ratio was at 2.44.