Integrated Nutrient Management Enhances Growth, Floral Productivity, Postharvest Quality, and Economic Returns in African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) cv. Pusa Narangi Gainda
Suraj Prakash *
Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raja Pancham Singh Marg, Gwalior, (M.P.) - 474011, India.
Devendra Kumar
Govt. Agriculture College, Chudla Mundwar, Distt Khairtal Tijara, India.
Ashutosh Kumar
KVK, Narkatiyaganj, RPCAU, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar, India.
Ratul Moni Ram
KVK, Narkatiyaganj, RPCAU, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar, India.
Bhagyashree Paul
Division of Plant Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, SVPUAT, Meerut, U.P.– 250110, India.
Ravinder Kaur
School of Agriculture, Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand University, Uttarakhand, India.
Mohit Kashyap
Department of Soil Science, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya Palampur, Pin Code- 176062, India.
Abhinash Moirangthem
Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Iroisemba, Imphal, Manipur, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Research Farm–I, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, during the Rabi season of 2021–2022 to evaluate the effects of integrated nutrient management on the growth, flowering, yield, seed production, postharvest behaviour, and economics of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) cv. Pusa Narangi Gainda. The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design comprising eleven nutrient-management treatments, each replicated three times. The treatments included different combinations of the recommended dose of fertilisers (RDF), farmyard manure (FYM), and the biofertilisers Azospirillum and phosphate-solubilising bacteria (PSB). Among the treatments, 100% RDF (130:90:100 kg N:P:K ha⁻¹) + 100% FYM (26 t ha⁻¹) + Azospirillum + PSB, each at 6 kg ha⁻¹ (T₉), produced the best overall performance. Treatment T₉ recorded the maximum plant height (100.91 cm), stem girth (5.82 cm), number of branches per plant (23.15), plant spread (70.92 cm), and total dry matter production (84.90 g plant⁻¹) at harvest. It also resulted in earlier flower-bud initiation (31.35 days) and 50% flowering (56.32 days), a longer flowering duration (44.51 days), the maximum flower diameter (7.25 cm), number of flowers per plant (38.74), flower pickings per plot (7.98), flower weight (6.91 g), flower yield per plant (274.72 g), and flower yield (14.47 t ha⁻¹). The same treatment recorded the highest number of seeds per flower (285.50), seed yield per flower (1.77 g), seed yield per plant (26.87 g), and test weight (2.98 g). Although the integrated nutrient treatments did not significantly influence vase life or shelf life, T₉ recorded the highest numerical values for vase life (5.99 days) and shelf life under open conditions (2.96 days) and under a polythene cover (4.86 days). Economically, T₉ registered the highest gross return (Rs. 148,504 ha⁻¹), net return (Rs. 95,797 ha⁻¹), and benefit–cost ratio (1.81). The study therefore demonstrated that the integrated application of inorganic fertilisers, FYM, and biofertilisers effectively improved the productivity, seed production, and economic returns of African marigold cv. Pusa Narangi Gainda.
Keywords: Tagetes erecta L., African marigold, integrated nutrient management, recommended dose of fertilisers, farmyard manure, Azospirillum, phosphate-solubilising bacteria, flower yield, seed yield, benefit–cost ratio