Effect of Different Levels of Nitrogen and Weed Management Practices on Seed Quality and Seed Yield of Gaillardia (Gaillardia pulchella Foug.) under Hyderabad Conditions, Telangana, India

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out during 2018–2019 at the Floricultural Research Station, Hyderabad, Telangana, to study the effect of different nitrogen levels and weed management practices on seed quality and seed yield of gaillardia (Gaillardia pulchella Foug.). Gaillardia is an important ornamental annual widely grown for loose flowers, landscaping, and seed production under diverse agro-climatic conditions, particularly during summer months in South India. The experiment was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with 20 treatment combinations comprising four nitrogen levels (0, 75, 150, and 180 kg N ha⁻¹) and five weed management practices, replicated three times. The maximum number of seeds per flower (251.66) was recorded with 150 kg N ha⁻¹ combined with black and silver polythene mulch. The highest germination percentage (48.88%) was observed with 180 kg N ha⁻¹ under black and silver polythene mulch. Application of 75 kg N ha⁻¹ and black and silver polythene mulch significantly increased the number of seeds per flower and seed weight per flower, while 150 kg N ha⁻¹ with black and silver polythene mulch recorded the highest test weight, seed yield per plant, and seed yield p er hectare. Overall, the results indicated that nitrogen application at 150 kg ha⁻¹ in combination with black and silver polythene mulch is optimum for improving seed quality and seed yield of gaillardia under Hyderabad conditions.