Consequences of Mulch Practice on Growth, Flowering and Yield of Different Varieties of China Aster (Callistephus chinensis)

The investigation entitled with ‘Consequences of mulch practice on growth, flowering and yield of different varieties of China aster (Callistephus chinensis)’ were carried out at floriculture unit, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Dharwad, Karnataka during the year 2019-20. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design consisting of 20 treatment combinations. Ten china aster varieties, Namdhari Pink (V1), Namdhari White (V2), Arka Kamini (V3), Arka Poornima (V4), Arka Shashank (V5), Phule Ganesh pink (V6), Phule Ganesh Puple (V7), AAC-1(V8), Miraj Local (V9) and Pink Cushion (V10) were planted under black plastic mulch (M2) and without mulch condition (M1). The variety Phule Ganseh Purple under mulched condition (V6M2) registered maximum plant height of 54.03 cm, plant spread of 38.53 cm and number of primary braches 25.46. However, minimum number of days 34.58 and 48.63 days, were recorded in treatment V5M2 (Arka Shashank under mulched condition) for days taken for flower bud initiation, 50 per cent flowering respectively, compared to other treatment combinations. The treatment V8M2 (AAC-1 under mulched condition) was observed with maximum flowering duration (34.26 days). Phule Ganseh Purple under mulch condition (V7M2) and Phule Ganseh Pink under mulch condition (V7M2) recorded maximum flower diameter of 7.47 cm and flower stalk length of 42.77 cm respectively. V7M2 treatment combination recorded highest flower yield (158.76 g) as compared to remaining treatment combinations. The overall experiment resulted that Phule Ganseh Series under black plastic mulch found superior under northern transitional zone of Karnataka.