Effect of Fertigation Intervals on Plant Growth and Flower Yield of Multiflora Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) cv. Branfountain Purple

Abstract

This study was conducted in the Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (UP) from October 2021- March 2022 to investigate the Effect of Fertigation Intervals on Plant Growth and Flower Yield of Multiflora Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) cv. Branfountain Purple. The experiment was laid out in RBD with nine treatments which were replicated thrice. The results revealed that treatment T9 (19:19:19 NPK/m2(4.6 g) @ 8 days interval)) + foliage spray of 0.2% EDTA Chelated micronutrient mixture) – performed the best in terms of  plant height(cm) (21), number of branches (53), plant spread (cm) (27), Number of leaves  (403), number of flowers per plant (75), chlorophyll content of leaves (SPAD value) (31.9), days to first flowering (days) (130), days 50% flowering (days) (143), flowering duration (days) (185), flower diameter (cm) (4.0), individual flower weight (g) (10), flower yield per plant (g/plant) (0.78). Therefore, the treatment T9 (T5+ foliage spray of 0.2% EDTA Chelated micronutrient mixture) was the best when compared to other treatments. Overall results revealed that the application of fertilizer through fertigation as T9 (19:19:19 NPK/m2 (4.6 g) @ 8 days interval)) + foliage spray of 0.2% EDTA Chelated micronutrient mixture) proved to be better for different growth and flower yield of multiflora chrysanthemum.