Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
B Swetha, Zehra Salma, P Prasanth, K Kaladhar Babu and P Gouthami

Abstract:
The experiment entitled “Studies on the effect of micronutrients on growth and quality in gaillardia (Gaillardia pulchella Foug.)” was conducted during the Rabi season of the year 2021-2022 at Floricultural Research Station, Rajendranagar, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University. Among the treatments, the treatment T6 (RDF + Zn (10 kg/ha) + Mn (10 kg/ha) + B (4 kg/ha) + Fe (5 kg/ha) soil application + Zn EDTA + Mn EDTA + B + Fe EDTA (@ 0.4% each as foliar application) recorded maximum plant height (61.05 cm), plant spread N-S (48.70 cm), plant spread E-W (49.44 cm) and number of branches per plant (49.41), whereas minimum plant height (30.80 cm), plant spread N-S (25.50 cm), plant spread E-W (25.09 cm) and number of branches per plant (27.18) were recorded by T₁ ( RDF @ 150:80:60 Kg/ha NPK (control). It was observed that the maximum quality attributes viz., early flower bud initiation (47.31 days), early flower bud to open (53.41 days), flower diameter (5.83 cm), flower longevity on plant (10.19 days), shelf life (11.16 hours), plant fresh weight (3.16 kg), plant dry weight (1.01 kg) and chlorophyll content (48.30) maximum in the treatment of T₆ (RDF + Zn (10 kg/ha) + Mn (10 kg/ha) + B (4 kg/ha) + Fe (5 kg/ha) soil application + Zn EDTA +Mn EDTA + B +Fe EDTA (@ 0.4% each as foliar application).