Vol. 12, Issue 7 (2023)

Author(s):
Kruti Dobariya, BV Thumar, Anamika Varma and JS Parasana

Abstract:
The present investigation was carried out at Instructional Farm, Jambuvadi, Department of Floriculture & Landscape Architecture, College of Horticulture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat) from October-2022 to March-2023. In the case of integrated nutrient management, the result revealed that the application of 60% RDF + Vermicompost (3 t/ha) + Azotobacter (5 ml/l) + PSB (5 ml/l) + KSB (5 ml/l) + Seaweed extract (1%) (I₅) was recorded highest for all the growth, flowering and yield parameters. In respect to pinching, maximum plant height (102.32 cm), minimum days to first flower bud appearance (25.58), maximum flower diameter (6.84 cm), fresh weight of flower (5.88 g) and fresh weight of hundred flowers (499.53 g) was observed in no pinching (P₁). While single pinching noted better results for leaf area (58.38 cm²) and stem diameter (2.60 cm) (P₂). Whereas, the number of branches per plant (32.16), plant spread (E-W) & (N-S) (61.48 cm and 63.82 cm), the maximum number of flowers per plant (111.58), flowering span (53.66 days), flower yield per plant (351.12 g), flower yield per plot (3.16 kg) and flower yield per hectare (25.97 t) was observed in double pinching (P₃). In case of interaction, the highest number of flowers per plant (117.36), flower yield per plant (444.90 g), flower yield per plot (4.08 kg) and flower yield per hectare (33.61 t) were observed in a treatment combination of 60% RDF + Vermicompost (3 t/ha) + Azotobacter (5 ml/l) + PSB (5 ml/l) + KSB (5 ml/l) + Seaweed extract (1%) with double pinching (I₅P₃). From the present study, it can be inferred that an application of 60% RDF + Vermicompost (3 t/ha) + Azotobacter (5 ml/l) + PSB (5 ml/l) + KSB (5 ml/l) + Seaweed extract (1%) with double pinching (I₅P₃) increased flower yield in annual chrysanthemum.