Progressive Horticulture

The investigation was carried out to study the effect of different planting dates and spacing on growth and yield of African marigold cv. ‘Pusa Narangi Gainda’. The treatments comprised of four planting dates, viz., 1^st September (D₁), 1^st October (D₂), 1^st November (D₃) and 1^st December (D₄) and three plant spacings, viz., 40×20 cm (S₁), 40×40 cm (S₂) and 40×60 cm (S₃). The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with twelve treatment combinations replicated thrice. Number of primary branches per plant (16.89), plant spread (48.33 cm), flower diameter (6.89 cm), number of flowers per plant (50.10), weight of flower per plant (466.35 g), flower yield per plot (20.97 kg) and flower yield per hectare (25903.31 kg) were found to be statistically higher in 1^st October planting. Among various spacings, 40×20 cm recorded significantly maximum flower yield per hectare (26483.56 kg ha⁻¹) than 40×40 cm and 40×60 cm spacing. Other growth parameters like number of primary branches per plant (13.43), plant spread (41.13 cm), and flower diameter (6.32 cm) was found to be significantly higher in 40×60 cm. However, duration of flowering (43.25 days) was found to be significantly higher in 40×40 cm spacing which, in turn, was statistically at par with 40×60 cm spacing. Further, the interaction effect of planting dates and spacing on plant height, plant spread, number of primary branches per plant, flower diameter, number of flowers per plant, weight of flower per plant and flower yield per hectare was found to be significant.