Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Flower Quality of French Marigold (Tagetes patula L.) cv. Pusa Arpita

The present investigation was carried out with the aim to find out the effect of integrated nutrient management on flower quality of French marigold (Tagetes patula L.) cv. Pusa Arpita at the Horticultural Research Centre, Department of Horticulture, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, U. P., India, during the year 2019-2020. The study consisted of organic manures (FYM and Vermicompost), Bio-fertilizers (PSB and Azotobacter), and the recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer (RDF) (150:60:60 kg NPK/ha). The combined application of ½ RDF + ½ PSB+ ½ Vermicompost showed significant influence on quality parameters that include; maximum flowering duration (60.66 days), circumference of flower (22.51 cm), number of florets per flower (136.55), length of flower stalk (6.44 cm), and the vase life of flowers were enhanced by up to 7.47 days over the control that was recorded in the same treatment. The study concluded that there was a significant influence of the combined application of organic manure, bio-fertilizer and inorganic fertilizer on French marigold to enhance the flowering quality and their characters.