Influence of Spacing and Nano Urea Application on Growth and Flowering in Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

Aim: To study the effect of spacing and nano urea application on growth and flowering parameters in marigold. Study Design: Split plot design. Place and Duration of Study: New orchard, Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur during 2023-24. Methodology: Spacing at 3 levels in combination with 3 different doses of nano urea. Results: The results revealed that significantly minimum days to first flower initiation and 50 per cent flowering (25.22 and 31.00 Days after transplanting) in S3. But the highest number of branches (22.51), stem girth (1.62 cm), number of flowers per plat (50.54), fresh weight of flowers (128.76 g), recorded significantly highest in S1. Between different nano urea applications, N3 registered significantly highest number of branches per plant (23.04), stem girth (1.66 cm), minimum days to first flower initiation (25.78 days from transplanting) and 50 per cent flowering (30.89 days), maximum number of flowers (49.09), fresh weight of flowers (128.25 g). Conclusion: The wider spacing (60 cm x 45 cm) showed the best results for growth and flowering parameters. The N3 [50% RDN (25% BD+25% TD)+0.2% NUS at 40 and 60 DAT] treatment also recorded superior compare to other treatments for all growth and flowering parameters viz., number of branches, stem girth, days to first flower initiation, days to 50 per cent flowering, number of flowers, fresh weight of flowers. Hence, planting with wider spacing S1 and N3 [60 cm x 45 cm and 50% RDN (25% BD+25% TD)+0.2% NUS at 40 and 60 DAT] were found to be superior.