Enhancement of physiological response in spray chrysanthemum through fertigation

A greenhouse study with an objective of improving the physiological responses of spray chrysanthemum var. Punch under different fertigation levels was conducted at Department of Floriculture & Landscaping, TNAU, Coimbatore during 2013. The study comprised of 75%. 100%, 125% and 150% of fertigation level along with foliar spray of 0.2% EDTA chelated micronutrient mixture to each of the treatment. The physiological parameters such as total leaf area, total chlorophyll content, soluble protein, dry matter production, IAA oxidase and Nitrate reductase activity were analysed at the critical stages and flowering parameters were also recorded. The results revealed that the 75 per cent of fertigation schedule along with 0.2% micronutrient mixture recorded the highest value for all the physiological activities studied viz., total leaf area (1325.77 cm²), total chlorophyll (2.09 mg/g), soluble protein (73.54 mg/g), dry matter production (28.35 g/plant), IAA oxidase activity (825.10 μg of unoxidised auxin g⁻¹ h⁻¹) at the flowering stage and flowering parameters like weight of cut stem (63.58 g) and cut stem yield (77.68 stems/m²). Though 100 per cent of fertilizer mixture with micronutrients registered better performance, reduction in the fertilizer dose was also on par with it. Thus T₆ (75% RDF @ 12: 3: 12 g NPK/m² with foliar spray of 0.2% EDTA chelated micronutrient mixture) found to increase the physiological responses of the spray chrysanthemum which ultimately effect on the improvement in flowering and yield per unit area.