Effect of Varying Levels of Fertilizer and Plant Geometry on Growth, Flowering and Yield of Calendula (Calendula officinalis L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of the year 2021–22 to know the effect of varying levels of fertilizers and plant geometry on growth, flowering and yield of calendula. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with two factors i.e. first one is inorganic fertilizers with four different levels viz., F1 (120:45:45) (N:P:K Kg/ha); F2 (96:36:36) (N:P:K Kg/ha); F3 (80:30:30) (N:P:K Kg/ha); F4 (64:24:24) (N:P:K kg/ha) and second is three levels of plant geometry i.e. S1(30 x 20 cm2); S2 (30 x 30 cm2); S3 (40 x 30 cm2) which were subjected to twelve treatments and replicated thrice in each plot size of 1.2 x 1.5 m2. The results divulged that growth attributes i.e. plant height (47.42 cm), number of leaves/plant (134.60) and branches/plant (14.01), was found maximum under F1 (120:45:45 N: P: K Kg/ha). Among different spacing levels maximum flower diameter (7.13 cm), number of flowers/plant (84.00) and weight of flowers/plant (123.68 g) and maximum seed yield/plant (12.85 g) were augmented significantly under wider spacing i.e. S3 (40 X 30 cm2). Minimal days to 1st flowering (46.04 days) and earliest 50% flowering (56.21d), utmost number of flowers/plot (1794.51), and weight of flowers/plot (3100.28 g), and 164.20 q/ha and yield attributes such as highest seed yield/plot (282.49 g) and per ha (15.40 q/ha) resulted with closer spacing of treatment S1 (30 x 20 cm2). In case of interaction number of flowers/plot (2025.42), and weight of flowers/plot (3513.50 g) and 194.75 q/ha, seed yield/plot (313.60 g) and 7.77 q/ha were noted significant under treatment combination of F1S1 (120:45:45 N:P:K Kg/ha + 30 X 20 cm2).