Effect of Nano Urea Application and Mineral Nutrition on Vegetative, Flowering and Yield of French Marigold (Tagetes patula L.)

Abstract

Tagetes patula L. is one of the most popular and commercial loose flower crops of Jammu, India. Popularly known as the city of temples, the Jammu region witnesses a huge demand for marigold flowers for garland making, offerings in temples and other decorative purposes during various festive occasions. As a result, the production of flowers in Jammu alone cannot meet the ever-increasing demand, and flowers worth lakhs need to be procured from neighbouring states. This study was conducted with the aim of exploring and elucidating the potential impact of different concentrations of nano-urea on vegetative growth, flowering, fruiting, and yield. The study was conducted at the Experimental Farm, Division of Floriculture and Landscaping, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Chatha during the years 2022-2023&2023-24. The experiment was laid out in Complete Randomized Block Design with three replication and fifteen treatments viz., T1 =100% RDF (Control i.e. 200 kg N, 100 kg P2O5 and 100 kg K2O/ha);T2 = 100% RDF + 1ml/l nano urea foliar application;T3 =100% RDF + 1.5 ml/l nano urea foliar application;T4 =100% RDF + 2 ml/l nano urea soil application;T5 = 100% RDF + 4 ml/l nano urea soil application;T6 = 75% RDF;T7=75% RDF + 1ml/l nano urea foliar application;T8 = 75% RDF + 1.5 ml/l nano urea foliar application;T9 = 75% RDF + 2 ml/l nano urea soil application;T10 = 75% RDF + 4 ml/l nano urea soil application;T11 = 50 % RDF;T12 = 50 % RDF + 1 ml/l nano urea foliar application;T13 = 50 % RDF + 1.5ml/l nano urea foliar application;T14 = 50 % RDF + 2 ml/l nano urea soil application;T15 = 50 % RDF + 4 ml/l nano urea soil application. The results revealed that the data revealed that maximum plant height (84.36 cm), plant spread (65.34 cm), number of laterals (20.40) and Chlorophyll content (48.38) with the application of 100% RDF + 1.5ml/L nano urea foliar application. The pooled data furthermore, revealed the maximum number of flowers per plant (148.06), flower diameter (5.93 cm), flowering duration (56.22 days), weight of flower (5.01 g), flower yield per plant (0.74 kg), the cost: benefit ratio during the year 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 (4.98 and 5.77, respectively) were recorded maximum in the treatment combination of 75% RDF + 1.5ml/L nano urea foliar application.