Effect of different fertigation levels and mulching on growth and yield of chrysanthemum cv. Thai Chen Queen

Abstract

The current study entitled “Effect of different fertigation levels and mulching on growth, yield and quality of chrysanthemum cv. Thai Chen Queen” was carried out at Madhadi baug, Fruit Research Station, Department of Horticulture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat). The experiment was conducted in Randomized Block Design with factorial concept with fifteen treatment combinations, consisting three levels of fertigation i.e. 75% RDF (F1), 100% RDF (F2), 125% RDF (F3) and five different types of mulches i.e. black plastic mulch (M1), silver plastic mulch (M2), white plastic mulch (M3), farm waste mulch (M4) and control (M5). The treatments were repeated three times. One of the various fertigation levels, application of 125% RDF resulted maximum plant height (29.60 cm), number of leaves per plant (134.13), number of laterals per plant (10.77), spread of plants N-S direction (26.85 cm) and E-W direction (26.40 cm) at full bloom stage in chrysanthemum. Significantly minimum days for first flower bud appearance (42.73) were found in 125% RDF. The most number of flowers per plant (64.79), number of flowers per plot (1050.17) and yield of flower per plot (4.13 kg/plot) were recorded with the application of 125% RDF (F3). Application of black mulch (M1) in chrysanthemum plants significantly increased vegetative growth with respect to plant height (31.22 cm), highest number of leaves per plant (134.44), highest number of laterals per plant (10.87) and spread of plant in N-S direction (27.08 cm) and E-W direction (27.48 cm) at full bloom stage. Minimum days for first flower bud appearance (41.56) and for 50% flowering (79.44) were found in black plastic mulch (M1). Black plastic mulch (M1) significantly gave maximum number of flowers per plant (72.11), number of flowers per plot (1137.15) and yield of flower per plot (3.80 kg/plot). Combined application of 125% RDF with black plastic mulch (F3M1) significantly increased number of flowers per plant (82), number of flowers per plot (1378.67) and yield of flowers per plot (4.94 kg/plot) in chrysanthemum. From the result of the present experiment, it can be concluded that the application of 125% RDF through fertigation with the application of black plastic mulch enhanced all growth, yield and flowering parameters in chrysanthemum.