Studies on Response of African Marigold (Tagetes erecta) to NPK, Humic Acid and Zinc Sulphate in Red and Lateritic Soils of Jhargarm District of West Bengal

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at Kapgari village of Jhargram district of West Bengal, to study the effects of NPK, humic acid and zinc sulphate on the growth and yield of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.), during the year 2018 and 2019. The experiment included three treatments with ten replications were designed in Randomized Block Design. First treatment (T1) was with the recommended doses of NPK (120: 120: 100 kg/ha). Second treatment (T2) was to apply fertigation of 75% of the recommended doses in three splits whereas the third treatment (T3) was to apply fertigation of 75% of the recommended doses in five splits along with foliar application (30 and 45 days after planting) of humic acid (0.2%) and Zinc Sulphate (0.2%). Results revealed that the plants treated with T3 found to have maximum plant height (67.6 cm), plant spread (45.2 cm2) and number of branches per plant (27.2) as well as the number of flowers plant-1 (21.7), flower diameter (5.4 cm), individual flower weight (6.6 g) and yield of flower (230.6 q/ha) were also found highest by applying the same.