Effect of spacing, source of nitrogen fertilizer and sodium nitro Prusside on growth and yield of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) during summer in Andhra Pradesh

An experiment was conducted to find out the impact of spacing, sodium nitroprusside spray and sources of nitrogenous fertilizers on growth and yield of African marigold cv. Bidhan Marigold -2 in summer during 2017 - 2019 at Horticultural Research Station, Dr. Y.S.R. Horticultural University, Venkataramannagudem. Results revealed that plants grown at wider spacing (60 x 30 cm) with application of 581 kg ha-1 nitrate form of nitrogen (calcium nitrate) and two sprays of 200 µM sodium nitroprusside recorded maximum values for all the vegetative and yield parameters except for plant height, internodal length, days taken for first flower bud appearance, days for 50% flowering and flower yield ha-1. Closer spacing (45 x 30 cm) with application of nitrate form of nitrogen (calcium nitrate) and two sprays of 200 µM SNP recorded maximum flower yield ha-1 (224.23 q) due to accommodation of more number of plants per unit area.