Marigold-globe amaranth sequential cropping in coconut plantations of coastal humid tropics

Abstract

<p>Marigold (Tagetus erecta) and globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) are two potential commercial loose flower crops with high<br />market demand during festive seasons. Climate of coastal humid tropics is suitable for growing marigold and globe amaranth<br />during October to April and May to September, respectively, where the flowering season coincides with the peak demand fetching<br />higher market price. A field study was conducted in two consecutive years at ICAR-CPCRI, Regional Station, Kayamkulam<br />during 2010-12 for standardising the nutrient management practice for marigold-globe amaranth sequential cropping under coconut<br />based farming system in coastal humid tropics. The treatments were fixed based on nitrogen equivalent basis. In the study,<br />marigold alone was supplied with nutrition and globe amaranth was raised with the available field residues of first crop. Intercropping<br />marigold was supplied with basal dose of vermicompost (16.8 kg N ha-1) followed by 16.8:18:18 kg NPK ha-1 at 15 days after<br />transplanting and vermicompost extract (1:10), to meet 4.4 kg N ha-1 equivalent, at 30 days and 45 days after transplanting<br />resulted in fresh flower yield of 2 t ha-1 of coconut plantations. The plant height, number of primary and secondary branches,<br />number of flowers plant-1, flower yield, and flower carotenoid content of marigold were also higher in this treatment. The growth<br />or yield of globe amaranth did not differ among the treatments, and on an average it produced fresh flower yield of 1.9 t ha-1 from<br />the interspaces of coconut. This study on sequential cropping of flower crops revealed that substituting 50 per cent inorganic<br />nitrogen requirement of marigold with vermicompost enhances its growth performance and also provides adequate nutrition for<br />raising globe amaranth during its vegetative phase (upto 60 days after transplanting) resulting in a B:C ratio of 2.8.</p>