Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
Phairohlui, Dr. Rokolhuii Keditsu and Miter Game

Abstract:
The present experiment on the effect of shading materials on the performance of spray chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) cultivars was carried out at the Horticulture Experimental Farm, NU: SASRD, Medziphema Campus, Nagaland during June 2018-January 2019. The experiment was laid out in Split Plot Design with 3 shading materials and open (control) and 4 cultivars of spray chrysanthemum in 3 replications. The findings revealed that maximum number of leaf area (19.17cm2), number of primary branches (9.91), chlorophyll content (8.81 mg/ml) and maximum size of bloom (5.82 cm) was obtained under open condition. The maximum plant height (96.8 cm) was obtained under black satin cloth cover. Earliness in flowering was also noticed in controlled photoperiod, where thatch cover took the minimum days (128.91, 151.41 and 168.08 days) for bud emergence, bud burst and full bloom respectively. Whereas, the maximum number of cut stems/plant (9.91) and cut stems/hectare (7.93 lakh) was obtained under open condition. While the longest self-life of 76.58 days was obtained under thatch cover. Among the cultivars, the maximum number of leaves (124), primary branches (10.08) and number of cut stems/hectare (7.93 lakh) and minimum days (125.41, 146.91, 166.08 and 185.67) to bud emergence, bud burst, full bloom and peak flowering was obtained in cv. Pusa Aditya. However the tallest plant height (83.88cm), maximum plant spread (27.50 cm) and longest vase life (21.17 days) was recorded in cv. Tata Red. The findings also revealed that cv. Poornima recorded maximum leaf area (19.65 cm2), chlorophyll content (8.93 mg/ml) and longest self-life (76.83 days). The results revealed that S0 (open condition) gives highest net return of Rs 261.26 lakh.