Effect of integrated nutrient management on vegetative growth and flowering of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) Cv. Bidhan Marigold-2

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on vegetative growth and flowering of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) Cv. Bidhan Marigold-2 at Main Experimental Station, Department of Floriculture and Landscape, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Narendra Nagar, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.) during the summer season of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with16 treatment combinations replicated thrice to assess the effect of Azospirillum, PSB, FYM, Vermi-compost, Poultry manure and NPK (Recommend Dose of Fertilizers).Results reveal that the application of Azospirillum @ 250 ml/ha + PSB @ 250/ha ml + Vermi compost @ 50 q/ha + 50% NPK (Recommend Dose of Fertilizers) left the significant response on vegetative growth and flowering of African marigold Cv. Bidhan Marigold-2. The treatment has resulted in maximum plant height, number of primary branches plant-1, spread of plants, stem diameter at 30 days, earlier days to first bud initiation, days taken to flower bud opening, days taken to 50% flowering and maximum duration of flower in the field. Based on above results, it is concluded that the use of treatment combinations of Azospirillum @ 250 ml/ha + PSB @ 250/ha ml + Vermicompost@ 50 q/ha + 50% NPK (Recommend Dose of Fertilizers) on African Marigold Cv. Bidhan Marigold-2 are beneficial for the growers of Eastern Uttar Pradesh.