Effect of foliar application of zinc and salicylic acid on growth, flowering and chemical constitute of African marigold cv. pusa narangi gainda (Targets erecta L.)

Abstract

A field experiment on African marigold (Targets erecta L.) was conducted during winter season of 2014-15to study the foliar effect of Zn and SA of 20 treatment combinations having five concentrations of zinc (0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1.0 %) and salicylic acid (0.0, 0.25, 0.50 and 1.0 mM/L).The treatmentZn4SA3 (Zinc 1% + Salicylic acid 1.0 mM/L) recorded the maximum plant height (77.41 cm), number of leaves per plant (314.10),earliest first flower bud appearance (39.78 days), maximum number of flowers per plant (62.33), maximum chlorophyll content (3.83mg/g) and maximum carotene content (3.07 mg/g)as compared to control where it was recorded minimum. These results are conclusive that foliar spraying with zinc 1.0% + salicylic acid 1.0 mM/L may positively increasedthe growth and flowering parametersof marigold.