EFFECT OF POTTING MEDIA ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF AFRICAN MARIGOLD (Tagetes erecta L.) IN GODAWARI, LALITPUR

Abstract

A field experiment titled “Effect of potting media on growth and yield of African marigold in Godawari, Lalitpur” was conducted from April to July, 2023 at Floriculture Development Centre, Godawari. The experiment was conducted in randomized block design with seven treatments and three replications. The research aims to determine the influence of different potting media on marigold and select appropriate media for it. The seven treatments include: T1 (Cocopeat Soil 25% + Sand 25% + FYM 25% + Ash 25%), T2 (Perlite 25% + Cocopeat 30% + FYM 20% + Soil 25%), T3 (FYM 50% + Soil 50%), T4 (Vermicompost 40% + FYM 30% + Soil 30%), T5 (40% + FYM 30% + Soil 30%), T6 (Soil 100%) and T7 (Peatmoss 50% + Soil 50%). The media were prepared before transplanting marigold. Different vegetative, flowering and yield parameters were examined throughout the research. The result revealed that plant height and number of leaves was recorded maximum with T2, whereas stem diameter and secondary branches were recorded maximum with T4. Flowering parameters were observed maximum with the application of T2 except for flower diameter which was found maximum with the application of T4. Yield was found maximum with the application of T2. T2 has shown to be helpful in providing African marigold plants optimum aeration, moisture retention, and nutrient availability. Researchers should focus on the sustainable and cost-effective media formulations for plant species. Furthermore, they must publicize their findings to enable farmers to adopt enhanced practices, ultimately benefiting the current scenario of the floriculture sector.