Influence of different bio-inoculants and potassium concentrations on the vegetative growth, flower quality and yield of Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) in a controlled environment

Bio-fertilizers are a cost-effective, renewable resource that plays a significant role in reducing the reliance on inorganic fertilizers, while simultaneously enhancing plant growth, flower quality, yield, and maintaining soil fertility. The combined use of potassium-solubilizing and mobilizing bio-inoculants with inorganic fertilizers has been shown to boost the effectiveness of organic inputs and improve the efficiency of chemical fertilizers, allowing for reduced application rates. With this context, this study was conducted at the Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Navile, Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Shivamogga. The experiment consisted of 10 treatments laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data was collected on plant growth, flower characteristics, and yield factors. Among all treatments T7 (100% N & P+ 75% K + KSB+ KSF) recorded highest plant height (60.04 cm), stem girth (6.57 mm), internodal length (2.80 cm), number of primary & secondary branches per plant (9.12 & 26.37), individual flower weight (6.36 g), flower diameter (6.69 cm), shelf life (7.17 days), number of flowers per plant (77.93), flower yield per plant (360.60 g), per m2 (4.16 kg) and per poly house (2.6 t/560 m2), number of suckers per plant (7.21), per m2(68.11) and per polyhouse (28607.6). In summary, the use of 75 percent potassium along with 100 percent nitrogen and phosphorus, combined with bio-inoculants, is the most beneficial for improving the vegetative growth, flower quality, and yield characteristics of chrysanthemum.