Effect of micro nutrients on plant growth and flower yield of calendula (Calendula officinalis L.) var. Bon Bon

Abstract

The present experiment was conducted to determine the “Effect of micro-nutrients on plant growth and flower yield of Calendula (Calendula officinalis L) cv. bon bon” in the department of horticulture, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj, (U.P.), India. During the winter season 2019. Twelve different micro-nutrients (Boron, Zinc and Iron) ratios were taken as treatments and are applied as foliar spray at an interval of fifteen days for instance in treatment T1 (0.1% Boron) 1g of boron is mixed with 1000 ml of water and sprayed on the plants. The 12 treatments included in the trail viz., T0 (Control), T1 (0.1% Boron), T2 (0.2% Boron), T3 (0.3% Boron), T4 (0.2% Zinc), T5 (0.4% Zinc), T6 (0.6% Zinc), T7 (0.8% Zinc), T8 (0.2% Iron), T9 (0.4% Iron), T10 (0.6% Iron), T11 (0.8% Iron) were tested in three replications. The results revealed that micro-nutrient treatment which had significant response on plant height (cm), plant spread (cm2), number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, Number of days required for first flower bud emergence from planting (days), flower diameter (cm), fresh weight of flower (g), flower yield per plant, flowers yield per plot (kg), flower yield per hectare (t). T11(0.8% Iron) was found to be best treatment in terms of plant height (34.07cm), plant spread (40.20 cm2), number of leaves (102.20), number of branches per plant (28.60), flower diameter (5.04 cm), weight of single flower(5.83 g), flower yield per plant (203.57 g), flower yield per plot (3.25kg), flower yield per hectare (20.35 t) and T3 (0.3% Boron) has recorded maximum performance in the following mentioned parameters as follows minimum number of days required for first bud emergence (37.59 days), maximum number of flower (35.47). The next succeeded performance shown just as much as T11 (0.8% Iron) and recorded as follows in treatment T3 (0.3% Boron) plant height (33.57cm), plant spread (38.05 cm2), number of branches per plant (27.27), number of leaves (100.20), flower diameter (4.93 cm), weight of single flower (5.64 g), flower yield per plant (200.04 g), flower yield per plot (3.20 kg), flower yield per hectare (20.00 t) and T11 (0.8% Iron) has second maximum reading in the following parameter number of flower (34.93) and minimum number of days required for first bud emergence was found second highest in T7 (0.8% Zinc).