Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Pune 400 005
* Present address: Department of Horticulture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
Among variius treatments, cocopeat + soilrite, soilrite + compost and cocopeat + compost showed overall improved growth and flowering performance with more number of sprays/plant, earlier flowering and improved quality aspects like flower diameter, stalk length and girth, and number of flowers/spray. The substrates individually did not perform as well as their mixtures. Compost amendment generally gave better results. Rice husk was not a satisfactory component in the mixtures. Thus, it may be concluded that cocopeat + soilrite, soilrite + compost and cocopeat + compost could be recommended as an alternative to soil for successful cultivation of chrysanthemum. However, more trials need to be undertaken in order to give a final recommendation.
