Studies on effect of different Planting dates and pinching on Flower yield and quality of China aster

Abstract

A field investigation was carried out at Floriculture Unit, Department of Horticulture, Dr. PDKV, Akola during the years, 2017-18 and 2018-19 in Factorial Randomized Block Design. Experiment comprising two factor i.e. factors “A” consists of different planting dates (D) viz. 1st September, 15th September, 1st October and 15th October and factor “B” consists of different pinching (P) viz. no pinching, single pinching at 20 DAT and single pinching at 30 DAT with 12 treatment combinations with three replications. The results of the experiment revealed that, effect of planting dates and pinching on China aster plants in respect of yield parameters viz. number of flowers plant-1, flower yield plant-1, plot-1and ha-1 were noticed maximum in 15th September planting date and single pinching at 20 DAT treatment. In respect of quality parameters like diameter of fully opened flower, stalk length, stalk diameter, weight of flower, vase life of cut flower and shelf life of loose flower were recorded in 15th September planting date and no pinching treatment during both the years of the experimentation.