Response of Phosphorus to Growth and Flowering of Golden Rod (Solidago sp.) as Influenced by Population Density

Abstract

Aims: The present work was carried out to evaluate the response of phosphorus on regulating vegetative and floral characters of golden rod in relation with population density. Study Design: The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Horticultural Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from May to October 2014. Methodology: The experiment having two factors. First factor; population density which are D1 = 40 cm x 20 cm, D2 = 40 cm x 30 cm and D3 = 40 cm x 40 cm and, second factor; four levels of phosphorus viz. P0 =   Control (without P2O5 addition), P1 = 100 kg P2O5 per ha, P2 = 125 kg P2O5 per ha and P3 = 150 kg P2O5 per ha. Fertilizers were applied @ 130, 100, 5000 and as per treatment kg per ha for urea, MP, cowdung and TSP, respectively and, intercultural operations were furnished for proper growth and development of the crop. Results: Population density and phosphorus levels showed significant variations with most of the parameters as well as the highest number of spike (752708 per ha) was in the closet spacing of 40 cm x 20 cm with 125 kg P2O5 per ha and the lowest (248958 per ha) in 40 cm x 40 cm spacing without P2O5. Conclusion: Use of higher population density (125000 plants per ha) with 125 kg P2O5 per ha would be the best for growth and flowering of golden rod.