Effect of source of nitrogen and vermi compost on growth, flowering attributes and yield of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

Abstract

The investigation entitled “Effect of nitrogen and vermi compost application on growth, flower yield, and shelf life of flower in marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) cv. Double Orange” was carried out at Jambuvadi Farm, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, during December 2016 to May 2017. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with Factorial concept (FRBD) consisting two factors with three replications. The treatment comprised with four levels of Nitrogen viz., 0kg ha-1, 150kg ha-1, 200kg ha-1, 250kg ha-1 and four levels of vermi compost 0 tonne ha-1, 2 tonne ha-1, 4 tonne ha-1 and 6 tonne ha-1.The results of the study indicated that application of nitrogen @250kg ha-1 significantly improved the plant height at 30 DAP (34.72cm), 60 DAP (55.07cm) and 90 DAP (85.39cm), increase number of primary branches (11.34) and secondary branches (33.78), stem diameter (2.03cm), fresh weight of the plant (371.60 g) and dry weight of the plant (68.03 g). While, minimum days to opening first flower (50.18 days), days to 50% flowering (62.98 days) shelf life of flower (4.03 days) and vase life of flower (6.80 days) were obtained in the treatment of 0kg ha-1 nitrogen (Control). Whereas, application of nitrogen @200kg ha-1 recorded highest flowering span (49.33days), number of flowers per plant (41.29), weight of single flower (6.03 g), weight of flowers per plant (251.98 g), flowers yield per plot (6.30kg), flowers yield per hectare (18.66 t/ha). In also of vermi compost the variation was also found significant. The maximum plant height at 30 DAP (34.53cm), 60 DAP (55.11cm) and 90 DAP (85.95cm), increase number of primary branches (10.55) and secondary branches (33.00), stem diameter (1.88cm), fresh weight of the plant (363.02 g) and dry weight of the plant (63.29 g), flowering span (49.67 days), number of flowers per plant (40.67), weight of single flower (5.75 g), weight of flowers per plant (237.99 g), flowers yield per plot (5.95kg) and flowers yield per hectare (17.63 t/ha) was noted in the treatment of vermi compost @6 tonne ha-1. However, without vermi compost (control) were recorded minimum days to opening first flower (51.36 days), days to 50% flowering (64.18 days) shelf life of flower (3.88 days) and vase life of flower (6.72 days). The interaction between the different levels of nitrogen and vermin compost failed to depict any significant effect on recorded characters.