Effect of pinching and chemicals on xanthophyll yield in Africa marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

The field study was conducted in Alflsol at Floriculture Unit, Department of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during kharif and rabi seasons of 2001-02 and 2002-03 to know the effect of pinching and chemical spray on growth, flower and xanthophyll yield in African marigold. There were 16 treatments included in the study, which comprises two levels of pinching at 40 days after transplanting and four chemicals (viz., CCC, mepiquat chloride @ 500 and 1000 ppm. DAP and muriate of potash @ 1 and 2%) at two levels each. Among the pinching and chemicals spray, the pinched crop sprayed with DAP @ 2% recorded highest xanthophyll yield (16.53 and 15.20 kg) per hectare. However, the maximum flower yield (16.44 and 15.27 t/ha) was obtained due to pinching plus CCC @ 1000 ppm followed by pinching plus DAP @ 2%(15.78and 14.50 t/ha) which were found to be the best treatment combinations during both the seasons respectively.