Effect of foliar feeding of nitrogen and GA₃ on vegetative growth, flowering behavior and yield of calendula (Calendula officinalis L.)

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of foliar feeding of nitrogen and GA₃ on vegetative growth, flowering behavior and yield of calendula (calendula officinalis L.). Results revealed that nitrogen (Urea 3%) increased plant height (27.01 cm), plant spread (27.07 cm), number of leaves (125.62), number of primary branches (17.57), number of flower per plant (89.10), flower diameter (4.94 cm) and weight of flower (1.22 g), duration (45.00 days) and yield of flowers per plant (109.69 g), however significantly maximum flower yield 146.25 q/ha was recorded with 3% urea spraying. Similarly GA₃ at 150 ppm influenced plant height (26.45 cm), plant spread (26.55 cm), number of leaves (125.28), number of primary branches (17.63), number of flower per plant (82.48), flower diameter (5.08 cm) and weight of flower (1.23 g) and yield of flower per plant (102.87 g) and per hectare (137.16 q), however it reduced the days taken to first flowering and 50% flowering. The interaction effect of nitrogen and GA₃ levels were showed significantly maximum in flower yield per plant and per hectare. Maximum yield of flower was recorded 184.42 q/ha with 3% urea and 150 ppm GA₃ spraying.