Yield and economics of marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) as influenced by spacing and fertigation under open filed conditions

Abstract

A field experiment comprising of six treatment combinations with spacing (60 cm x 45 cm) (60 cm x 60 cm) and water soluble fertilizers (WSF) as a nutrient source, three levels (80, 100 and 120% recommended dosage of fertilizers) and was conducted at department of horticulture, Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru during 2017-2018. The yield parameters of marigold cv. Supreme Yellow in terms of number of flowers per plant(30.80), number of flowers per unit area (450.50), single flower weight (6.20 g), and weight of 30 flowers (163.22 g), yield of flowers per plant (91.58 g), yield of flower per unit area (3.40 kg), yield of flowers per hectare (11.30 t) diameter of flower (5.74 cm) and cost benefit ratio (1:1.50) increased significantly with wider spacing at (60 cm x 60 cm) and water soluble fertilizers at 100 percent recommended dosage of fertilizers supplied through fertigation at fifteen days intervals from the study. It is evident that maximum growth parameters in marigold could be obtained by application of water soluble fertilizers at 100 percent of RDF through fertigation.