Nutrient content, uptake and yield in African marigold (<italic>Tagetes erecta</italic> Linn) as influenced by pinching and foliar application of gibberellic acid

Abstract

Present experiment was conducted at Main Garden of University, Akola, Department of Horticulture, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Agriculture University, Akola during summer season of the years 2010-11 and 2011-12, to study the effect of pinching (No pinching, pinching at 15, 22, and 30 days after transplanting ) and foliar application of gibberellic acid (100 ppm, 200 ppm, 300 ppm and control) at 15<sup>th</sup> and 30<sup>th</sup> days after planting on NPK content and uptake by pinching and gibberellic acid spray. The results revealed that maximum nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content and uptake as well as yield parameters <italic>viz</italic>., weight of flower, number of flower plant<sup>−1</sup>, yield of flower plant<sup>−1</sup> and hectare<sup>−1</sup> by African marigold plants were recorded by pinching at 15 days after transplanting and foliar application of gibberellic acid 300 ppm.