Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.,24 (5) : (681-683) 2011
Growth, yield and quality of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) Cv. Raja as influenced by integrated nutrient management* S. K. VERMA, S. G. ANGADI, V. S. PATIL, A. N. MOKASHI, J. C. MATHAD AND U. V. MUMMIGATTI Department of Horticulture University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005, Karnataka, India E-mail:
[email protected] (Received: July, 2010) Abstract: The treatment receiving Azospirillum, Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB), vermicompost and 50 per cent recommended NPK (T8) recorded the highest plant height, number of branches, plant spread, dry matter accumulation and yield attributes such as number of flower plant-1 and flower yield. The same treatment (T8) registered significantly higher quality parameters such as stalk length, flower diameter, shelf life of garland flowers. The economics analysis clearly indicated that net returns per hectare and B:C ratio was the highest in the plots treated with Azospirillum, PSB, vermicompost and 50 % recommended NPK (T8) (` 3,28,504 and 6.04 respectively) and these findings can be used in making chrysanthemum production more profitable. The recommended Dose of Fertilizer (R.D.F.) was 150:100:100 kg N: P2O5:K2O per hectare. Key words: Chrysanthemum, growth, flower yield, quality, economics, integrated nutrient management
Introduction
Material and methods
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) which occupies a prominent place in ornamental horticulture is one of the commercially exploited flower crops. In many countries, including the United States and Japan, it is considered as the number one crop. It is mainly grown for cut flower and loose flower for garland making, general decoration, hair adornments and religious function. Though the Chrysanthemum is one of the important commercial flower crops of Karnataka, its yield and quality levels are low and hence there is a need to standardize the optimum dose of nutrients particularly the integrated nutrient management for improving the soil structure, physico-chemical properties and flower yield. Application of nitrogen (20 g/m2) and phosphorus (20 g/m2 P2O5) interacted positively resulting in maximum yield of chrysanthemum Cv. Flirt (Beniwal et al., 2006). At present, these nutrients are supplied through chemical fertilizers. The indiscriminate and continuous use of chemical fertilizers has led to an imbalance of nutrients in soil which has adversely affected the soil health, affecting the yield and quality of the produce. Therefore, the integrated use of nutrient is need of the hour. The use of organic manures and bio-fertilizers along with the balance use of chemical fertilizers is known to improve physicochemical and biological properties of soil, besides improving the efficiency of applied fertilizers. The INM approaches not only improve the quality of the produce but also help in improving the soil fertility including the biosphere by reducing the cost of production in agriculture. Integrated nutrient management practices involving judicious combination of organic manures, bio-fertilizers and chemical fertilizers can be feasible and viable for sustainable agriculture on a commercial and profitable scale. In addition, they are eco-friendly, easily available and cost-effective. Therefore, emphasis is now focused on the use of organic manures such as farm yard manure, vermicompost and bio-fertilizers like Azospirillum and Phosphate Solubilising Bacteria (PSB).
The present investigation was carried out at Floriculture Unit of new orchard, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, University of Agriculture Sciences, Dharwad, during the year 20082009 to standardize the Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on growth, yield and quality of Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) Cv. Raja. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (RBD) with 8 treatments replicated three times. Individual plot size was 3.0 m x 3.0 m. The treatment included inorganic form of N (150 kg ha-1), P2O5 (100 kg ha-1) and K2O (100 kg ha-1) alone as Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (R.D.F.) as well as in combination with organic manures viz., vermicompost (2.5 t ha-1), farm yard manure (20 t ha-1) and bio-fertilizers viz., Azospirillum (500 g ha-1) and Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria (500 g ha-1). A slurry of 200 g of the lignite based culture of Azospirillum and PSB were prepared in 1000 ml of water individually and combination of both 100 g Azospirillum and 100 g PSB were prepared in 1000 ml of water. The rooted suckers of chrysanthemum were dipped in the above slurry for 30 minutes before transplanting. The growth and yield observations were recorded in five plants randomly selected in each treatment. The land was brought to a good tilth by repeated ploughing and harrowing. Farm yard manure and vermicompost were added as per the treatments to the plots 15 days before planting and were mixed well with the soil. Results and discussionm There were significant differences with respect to growth parameters like plant height, number of primary and secondary branches, plant spread and dry matter production in all the treatment combinations (Table 1). Application of (Azo+ PSB + VC equivalent 50% RD‘N’ + 50% RDF + 50% FYM) (T8) resulted in maximum plant height (63.39 cm), number of primary branches (20.07), number of secondary branches (23.13), plant spread (33.20 cm) and total dry matter production (42.55 g plant-1) compared to T4 (Azo + 75% RD‘N’ + RD‘P’ and RD ‘K’ + 100% FYM) in above all parameters. The production of auxin and
* Part of M.Sc. (Agri.) thesis, submitted by the first author to the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad - 580 005, India 681
Karnataka J. Agric. Sci.,24 (5) : 2011 Table 1. Effect of integrated nutrient management (INM) on growth attributes of chrysanthemum Cv. Raja at different stages of crop during Kharif season of 2009 Treatment
Plant height (in cm) Days after transplanting (DAT) 30 60 90 120
T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6 T7 T8
13.76 10.58 11.03 10.16 14.01 12.62 13.46 14.59
28.73 26.58 26.73 25.55 28.96 27.10 27.59 29.39
40.43 33.60 39.47 32.93 41.20 39.33 36.27 42.53
58.93 52.78 55.37 51.46 60.86 56.47 54.13 63.39
S.Em± C.D. at 5%
0.901 2.734
0.805 2.440
1.712 5.192
2.314 7.020
Number of branches plant-1
Plant spread (cm) Total dry weight Days after transplanting (DAT) of plants (g/plant) 30 60 90 120 Primary Secondary Days after branches branches Transplanting (DAT) 70 120 19.67 21.97 6.98 10.93 22.77 31.83 10.26 39.96 18.13 20.67 5.97 9.45 21.03 29.23 9.46 34.44 18.60 21.33 6.64 10.39 22.73 31.33 9.51 39.67 14.93 16.07 6.05 9.17 19.57 24.80 9.28 29.85 19.93 22.23 7.23 11.16 23.67 32.33 11.30 40.26 18.27 20.87 5.77 9.56 22.40 30.50 11.22 36.00 16.80 18.27 6.87 10.30 21.73 27.73 10.99 35.15 20.08 23.13 7.99 11.28 23.93 33.20 12.46 42.55 0.965 2.928
1.086 3.295
T1 = 100% RDF + 100% FYM T2 = VC equivalent 50% RD‘N’ + 50% RDF + 50% FYM T3 = Azo + VC equivalent 50% RD‘N’ + 50% RDF + 50% FYM T4 = Azo + 75% RD‘N’ + RD‘P’ and RD ‘K’ + 100% FYM T5 = PSB + VC equivalent 50% RD‘N’ + 50% RDF + 50% FYM T6 = PSB + 75% RD‘P’ + RD‘N’ and RD ‘K’ + 100% FYM T7 = Azo + PSB + 50% RD‘N’ and ‘P’ + RD ‘K’ + 100% FYM T8 = Azo+ PSB + VC equivalent 50% RD‘N’ + 50% RDF + 50% FYM
0.35 1.07
0.51 1.56
0.73 2.23
1.16 3.52
0.540 1.638
1.979 6.002
Azo - Azospirillum PSB – Phosphate solubilising bacterium VC – Vermicompost FYM –Farm yard manure -1 RDF- Recommended dose of fertilizer (150:100:100 kg N:P2O5:K2Oha INM - Integrated nutrient management DAT - Days after transplanting RD - Recommended dose
Table 2. Effect of integrated nutrient management (INM) on yield parameters and shelf life of chrysanthemum Cv. Raja at different stages of crop during Kharif season of 2009 Treatment Flower yield plant-1 (g) Flower yield plot-1 (kg) Total flower yield (t ha-1) Shelf life in ambient condition (hr.) T1 105.30 10.53 11.70 40.33 T2 72.48 7.24 8.05 44.67 T3 99.83 9.98 11.08 45.00 T4 70.03 7.00 7.78 41.00 T5 110.22 11.02 12.24 47.00 T6 82.42 8.24 9.15 42.00 T7 74.47 7.44 8.26 49.07 T8 118.15 11.81 13.12 51.53 S.Em± 3.238 0.571 0.680 1.405 C.D. at 5% 9.821 1.731 2.064 4.262 Table 3. Economics as influenced by integrated nutrient management (INM) in chrysanthemum Cv.Raja during Kharif season of 2009 Treatment Total cost of cultivation Flower yield Gross returns Net returns Benefit cost ratio ` ha - 1 t ha - 1 ` ha - 1 ` ha - 1 T1 62441 11.70 351000 288559 5.62 T2 64146 8.05 241500 177354 3.76 T3 64871 11.08 332400 267529 5.12 T4 62864 7.78 233400 170536 3.71 T5 64871 12.24 367200 302329 5.66 T6 62639 9.15 274500 211861 4.38 T7 61733 8.26 247800 186067 4.01 T8 65096 13.12 393600 328504 6.04
gibberellins type plant growth regulators is known to help in higher plant growth. Similar results of higher plant height due to combined application of Azospirillum, PSB and inorganic fertilizers has been reported earlier in Crossandra ( Narsimha Raju and Haripriya, 2001) and in Dahlia (Warade et al., 2007). Vermicompost is rich sources of micro and macro nutrients, Fe and Zn might have enhanced the microflora and enzymatic
activity which might have augmented the plant growth. The positive effect of vermicompost on plant growth has been reported in China Aster (Nethra et al., 1999) and Golden Rod (Kusuma, 2001). Data about yield are presented in Table 2. Total yield plant-1 (118.15 g), plot-1 (11.81 kg) and hectare-1 (13.12 tonnes), were significantly higher in T8 (Azo+ PSB + VC equivalent 50%
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Growth, yield and quality of chrysanthemum...................... RD‘N’ + 50% RDF + 50% FYM) followed by (T5) yield plant-1 (110.15 g), plot-1 (11.02 kg) and hectare -1 (12.24 tonnes) supplied with (PSB + VC equivalent 50% RD‘N’ + 50% RDF + 50% FYM) over remaining treatments. This might be due to possible role of Azospirillum through atmospheric nitrogen fixation, better root proliferation, uptake of nutrients and water. More photosynthesis enhanced food accumulation which might have resulted in better growth and subsequently higher number of flowers per plant and hence, more number of flower yield per hectare. Similarly, Chandrikapure et al. (1999) reported higher flower yield in marigold. The higher flower yield due to application of vermicompost has been reported in China Aster (Nethra et al., 1999 ; Chaitra and Patil, 2007) and marigold (Sunita et al., 2007). There was significant difference in shelf life of garland flowers as influenced by different treatments (Table 2). The maximum shelf life (51.53 hrs.) of garland flowers was recorded in T8 (Azo+ PSB + VC equivalent 50% RD‘N’ + 50% RDF + 50% FYM). Whereas, in treatment T1 (100 per cent RDF + 100 per cent FYM) was noticed lower shelf life (40.33 hrs.) in ambient condition,
which might be due to the higher retention of water in the cells of flowers and lower desiccation. Similar beneficial effects of bio-fertilizers and vermicompost on shelf life have been reported in marigold (Mashaldi, 2000). Data on economics of chrysanthemum flowers are presented in Table 3. Treatment combination of Azospirillum, PSB, vermicompost equivalent 50% RD‘N’, 50 per cent recommended NPK and 50 per cent FYM (T8) has realized maximum net returns ` 3,28504 per hectare with a benefit cost ratio of 1:6.04. Results have clearly showed that the cost of fertilizers can be saved with inoculation of both Azospirillum and PSB besides, obtaining higher flower yield of chrysanthemum. Therefore, it may be concluded that the use of Azospirillum, PSB , vermicompost equivalent 50% RD‘N’, 50 per cent FYM along with 50 per cent recommended nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (T8) helped in realizing better plant growth, higher flower yield and better quality flowers of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) Cv. Raja with higher benefit cost ratio under field condition.
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