Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Growth, Flowering Behaviour and Yield of African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) Cv. African Giant Double Orange

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, flowering behaviour and yield of marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) at the main experiment station, Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and Technology, Narendra Nagar (Kumarganj), Faizabad, during 2004 and 2005 in Randomized Block Design. There were thirteen treatments involving two biofertilizers, viz., Azotobacter and phosphorus solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and two levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, viz., (50% and 100%), farm yard manure (FYM) and control (recommended dose of NPK., i.e., 200:100:100 kg/ha). One month old seedlings were transplanted at a spacing of 40 x 30 cm. Results revealed that combined application of Azotobacter and PSB with FYM and 50% recommended dose of nitrogen and phosphorus significantly improved growth, flowering behavior and yield during both years (2004 and 2005). Application of Azotobacter + PSB + FYM @ 30 ha^-1 + nitrogen @ 100 ha^-1 and phosphorus @ 50 kg/ha was found to be best for growth, flowering behaviour and yield of cv. African Giant Double Orange.