ry Pee Are ene Oe Growth and flowering of African marigold as affected by nitrogen and phosphorus under varying intra-row spacing R.B. SOLANKI an NISAR AHMAD GANIE “Accepted: October, 2009 ABSTRACT The effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and intra-row spacing on the plant growth and flower production of African marigold was studied under subtropical Lakhoati conditions. Results of the present experiment showed that 300kg N ha" produced noticeably highest flower yield and yield attributes viz, no. of flowers plant", size of the flower head and weight of flower plant’ ‘Though the phosphorus dose @ 200kg ha’ gave sustainable increase in flower yield and yield attributes of African marigold, However, 40 » 40cm intra -row spacing was observed significantly See end ofthe article for authors’ affiliations Correspondence to NISARAHMADGANIE ‘superior than 40 = 30 and 40x Sem intra-row spacing in addition to the flower yield. On contrary, Department of flower weight of individual plant was higher with 40 * 50 intra-row spacing. However, the nitrogen Horticulture, AmarSingh and phosphorus application not produced any positive increase in growth parameters of marigold College, Lakhaoti, ‘over control. Simultaneously, 40 * SOcm intra-row spacing produced marked effect on the 40 x eee 30¢m and 40 * 40cm intra row spacing in relation to height of plant, diameter ofstem, spread of plant and no. of leaves plant’ Key words : Marigold, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Intra-row spacing, Pusa Narangi ‘arigolds have been cultivated from centuries and have acquired many religious and mystical associations. It is one of the most promising ornamental and is task establishing as an important cut flowering crop. Nitrogen and phosphorus being the major elements having immense importance in flowering crops. The deficiency of Nitrogen and phosphorus brought tremendous loss in addition to growth and flowering of cut blooming flori crops as being the constituents of protein. The combined application of nitrogen and phosphorus produced promising effect in response to the flower production. Although present need is to assess adequate dose of nitrogen and phosphorus with advantageous spacing. Thus, keeping above facts in view, the present investigation was conducted to evaluate the promising dose of nitrogen and phosphorus along with optimum intra-row spacing for ‘maximization of African marigold flower production. MATERIALS AND METHODS ‘The investigation was carried out at the Research farm of AS, College, Lakhoati, Bulandshahr (U.P) during the winter season of 2002 -2003 and 2003 - 2004. The experiment was laid out in spit plot design with treatments, Four levels of nitrogen (0, 100, 200 and 300kg ha’), three levels of phosphorus (0, 100 and 200kg ha") and three intra-row spacing (40 x 30cm, 40 x 40.em and 40 x 50cm). Thus in all the thirty six treatments were used and replicated thrice. The soil of experimental field was sandy loam having pH 7.8, organic carbon 0.30%, available nitrogen 178.0 kg ha''and available phosphorus 28. kg ha‘, Treatments nitrogen and spacing were used in main plot and phosphorus was applied as sub plot treatment. A uniform dose of 120kg K,Oha” was applied before transplanting along with one third nitrogen (N) and full dose of phosphorus, however, remaining nitrogen was top dressed in two split doses at 30 and 60 days after transplanting, The seedlings of cultivar Pusa Narangi were transplanted on 8 November during both the seasons. nitrogen, phosphorus and potash were used in the form of urea, single superphosphate and muriate of potash. Observations were recorded for various plant growth and flowering parameters. RESULTS_AND_DISCUSSION Data presented in Table 1, showed that plant height of stem, spread of plant and number of leaves plant! were significantly increased in various levels of nitrogen over control. Growth characters viz., height, diameter, spread and number of leaves were noticeably enhanced due to the phosphorus application; the tallest plant with maximum no. of leaves, diameter and spread of plants were produced by receiving 300 kg N and 200kg P,O, ha! under 40 x 50cm, intra-row spacing, Similar results have also been reported by Kumar et al. (2003). Singh and Baboo (2003), Baboo and Sharma (1997), Baboo and Sharma (2003) and Sharma er al. (2003). “HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE®RB. SOLANKI Ano MSAR AHMAD GANIE Eee 419 See 'No. of leaves on largest | sreaimens Plant height (em) Stem diameter (em) Plant spread em) ead | 200203 2003-04 2002-03 2003-04 Dogz-03___—2003-D4 2002-03 2003-200 1 Nitrogen (kena) | ° woo2 on M4 1s ss 560 vo 16s 100 136 0371 ur ses 592 191 192 200 W037 216 19 597 oa 79 29 | | 300 106500837 24 7 64 37 | CD(P=00) 2M 23 oot ois 08 19 12 23 | Phosphorus (kg hs") ° 12.4 toa 1s us 04 sm 178 in 100 1036 108615 8 se 02 245 ur | 200 1060106820 21 63 61 25 298 CD.P=00) 18 2 002 on 06 6 09 20 Ina row spacing (em) 40x30 ole 1022 “4 16 552 563 ne 178 40x40 1s 1044 16 18 s74 08 m2 m3 40x50 woo 089 20 2 29 291 296 CD.vP=005) 18 21 002 on 06 16 09 20 Nitrogen, phosphorus and intra-row spacings failed to exert any significant effect on length of the flower stalk (cm). However, spacing alone did not produced marked effect on size of flowers heads. Though, size of flower heads was significantly increased by all the treatments of nitrogen and phosphorous over control. There was a steady rise in no. of flowers plants", weight of flowers plants“! and flowers yield q ha’, however, 200 kg and 300 kg ha'' were stastically at par. Likewise, increasing dose of phosphorus also improved flower yield Table2 but 200 kg phosphorus was found more effective. ‘Simultaneously, application of nitrogen up to 300 kg hha" and phosphorus 200 kg ha" significantly increased the flower size, weight of flowers heads and number of flower plant’. Such increase in flower yield may be characterized due to the improved growth and subsequently the photosynthetic activities of plants by proper fertilization, Similarly in flower yield was also reported by various workers with application of nitrogen and phosphorus (Lodhi and Tewari, 1993; Baboo and PAR Lenghoffover—— No.offlowers Sie of ower Weightoffower Flowered Treatments stalk (cm) plane ends (em) plant" (g) “(qha') ~pooas 2003-04 30005” 2005-08 20R-03- 2005-04 300205 200} —P0H-03 2005.08 Tivopen ha) 0 6465963 BAGS 5662 28K ON 100 68 69—RSmMS. AS wlO]—««203.* «9743003 20 10-78-1036 ORL 10310760 «6AM 3263 MB 300 20791060027 ow TITAS S720 Jcor-o0) NS NS 22, Mts. O8H62SHK_sRO.S 210 Phosphor (kb) | 0 6266 nds 00GB 610295303 | | 100 65 73 102.7 105.7 92 94 634.4 640.0 308.5 325.0 | | 200 1778105872024 gk sae 3806 | |coe-oo) NS NS 19 29 0406338 | Intra row spacing (em) 40x30 6265356 S79 BOS SHB SBR. 3182— 3807 40x40 67 71 4008106192 6BI_ 68033049337 40x50 17800082093 ao naw aR 3077 cp.(r=00) NS NS 2029 NS_NS 68s 16280 Asian J. Hort, Dee. 2009 10 May, 2010, Vol 4 (2), SHHIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTES420. GROWTIL& FLOWERING OF AFRICAN MARIGOLD AS AFFECTED BY NITROGEN & PHOSPHORUS UNDER VARYING INTRA-ROW SPACING Sharma, 1997; Baboo and Singh 2003; Singh and Baboo, 2003; Paswan and Machahary, 2000) A perusal of the result clearly indicates that intra- row spacing 40x40cm produced significantly higher flower yield over 40x30cm and 40x50em, it might be possible due to improved weight of flower heads and closer plant strength than 40x50cm intra-row spacing. Similar results were reported by Singh and Brijimol (2000). Various spacing treatments failed to exert and striking effects on size of flower heads and length of the flower stalk. The result of yield studies showed that intra-row spacing, 40x40cm significantly increased flower yield 326.9 and 337.6 qha' in the year of 2002-2003 and 2003 ~ 2004, respectively. Intra row spacing 40x30em was also ‘observed superior than 40x50cm from the flower yield point of ‘may be experimentally substantiated by Singh and Bijimol (2000). ‘Authors? affiliations: R.B. SOLANKI, Department of Horticulture, Amar Singh College, Lakhaoti, BULANDSHAHR (U.P.) INDIA REFERENCES Baboo, R. and Sharma K.S.K. (1997). Effect of nitrogen and potash fertilization on growth and flowering af annual chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium).J. Ornamental Hort, 5-44-45, sian J. Hort, Dec. 2009 to May, 2010, Vol. 4 (2)] Baboo, R. and Sharma, M.K. (2003). Response of graded levels of nitrogen and phosphorus on growth and flowering in African marigold. J, Omamental Hor, 6: 400-402. Kumar, J. Chouhan, S.S. and Singh, P.V. (2003). Response of N and P fetlization on china aster. J. Ornamental Hort, 6: 82. Lodhi, A.K.S. and Tewari, G.N. (1993). Nutiional requirement of Chrysanthemum under field conditions. Fertilizer News, 38 39.45. Pagwan, L.and Machahary, R.K. (2000). Effect of Nitrogen on Bhia grass. Ornamental Hort, 3:87-90. Sharma, JR, Gupta, R.B., Panvar, RP. and Kaushak, R.A. (2003). Growth of lowering of gladiolus as affected by N and P levels. J. Ornamental Hort, 6: 76-77 Singh, A. K. and Bijimol 2000), Response of gladiolusto spacing and nitrogen levels under low hills of Nagaland. South Indian J Hort, 88: 72-77 Singh, M.K. and Baboo, R. (2003). Response of nitrogen, potassium and pinching levels on growth and flowering in chrysnthemum. J. Ornamental Hort, 6: 390-393. “HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTT