Assessment of nitrogen fertigation and plant spacing in chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) cv. Ratlam selection

Abstract

For high quality loose flower production, the study aimed to standardize plant spacing and fertigation, the study "Studies on plant spacing and fertigation schedule for loose flower production of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.)" was conducted from 2021 to 2022 at Research farm, Department of Floriculture & Landscaping and Soil and Water Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.There were four different levels of fertigation N @ (60 kg/ha, 80 kg/ha, 100 kg/ha and 120 kg/ha) were applied to chrysanthemum varietiy namely 'Ratlam Selection' through drip irrigation along with three different spacing levels i.e., 4030 cm, 4040 cm and 4060 cm.Split Plot Design (SPD) was the statistical method employed, and the trial was repeated three times.Data on growth, flowering and yield factors were collected and statistically analysed.The data observed on growth and floral attributes, i.e., number of branches (7.80), plant spread (46.70), flower weight (3.22 gm), maximum chlorophyll content least days to flower bud initiation (82.92days), flower weight (3.22 gm) and highest chlorophyll content (58.57spad value) was recorded with the application of N @ 120 kg/ha -1 with planting distance of 4060 cm and the maximum flower diameter (7.71 cm) and number of flowers per plant (138.67)were recorded higher with the application of N @ 100 kg/ha -1 with planting distance of 4060 cm.Yield attributes such as total flowers weight per unit area (m 2 ), number of flowers per unit area (m 2 ), were recorded best with treatment N @ 100 kg/ha with plant spacing 4060 cm.The research's findings indicate that the best fertigation for producing high-quality loose chrysanthemum flowers, with a spacing of 4060 cm, and fertigation N @ 100 kg/ha."