Standardization of production technology in garland chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum coronarium L

Abstract

Garland chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium L.) is an annual newlinechrysanthemum species, capable of growing throughout the year, though there were newlineseasonal differences in growth, yield and quality parameters. The present investigation was newlineconducted during the years 2008 and 2009 in the Floriculture unit of Main Agricultural newlineResearch Station, Department of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, newlinewith the objective of evaluating the effect of nutrition, growth regulators, planting geometry newlineand pinching on growth, yield and quality of garland chrysanthemum. newlineThe experiment on the effect of nutrition revealed that flower and seed yield per plant newlinewas found to be highest by the application of nitrogen at 150 kg ha-1 + phosphorus at 100 kg newlineha-1 both during kharif and rabi seasons with a constant dose of potassium at 100 kg ha-1. newlineThis combination was superior in terms of maximum gross returns, net returns and benefit newlinecost ratio. From the study on the effect of planting geometry, it was found that the flower yield newlineas well as seed yield per plot in terms of weight was found to be highest at 30 cm x 30 cm newlinelevel in both seasons. The number of flowers per plant was increasing as the plants were newlinewidely spaced, highest being recorded at 60 cm x 60 cm level. Studies on evaluation of newlinegrowth regulators/chemicals on this crop showed that there was an increase in the flower newlineyield as well as seed yield per plant by foliar application of gibberellic acid at 100 ppm, newlinecycocel at 3000 ppm, salicylic acid at 100 ppm and paclobutrazol at 40 ppm. Flower quality in newlineterms of average flower weight, flower diameter and vase life, and seed quality in terms of newlinetest weight were also at maximum by the pre-harvest application of gibberellic acid at 100 newlineppm. newlineThe effect of pinching time was found to be significant on this crop. The highest yield newlinein terms of number of flowers and weight of seeds per plant was recorded by pinching at 20 newlinedays after sowing (nursery) which was on par with those plants pinched at 10 days after newlinetransplant