Integrated nutrient management of African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) productivity in reclaimed sodic soils

摘要

In this study, the effect of integrated nutrient management practices on productivity of an important floricultural plant i.e. African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) has been quantified in reclaimed sodic soil The field experiment was conducted in randomized block design with 14 treatments (Tl- 100% Nitrogen-N, T2-100% N + Azotobacter, T3-100% N + Phosphate Solobulizing Bacteria-PSB, T4-100% N + Azotobacter + PSB, T5- 75% N, T6- 75% N + Azotobacter, T7- 75% N + PSB, T8- 75% N + Azolobacter + PSB, T9- 50% N, Tl 0- 50% N + Azotobacter, Tl 1 - 50% N + PSB, Tl 2- 50% N + Azotobacter + PSB, T13- Azolobacter + PSB, T14- Control) in three replications. The growth and productivity in terms of different morphological, physiological and yield traits and soil reclamation in terms of soil available nutrients and microbial population were measured. The highest nutrient (N, P, and K) availability and bacterial population was found in soils treated with 75%N + Azotobacter + PSB (T8) while the lowest was observed incontrol. The fast initiation (35.3 days after plantation) and opening (53.7 days) of flower buds in tested crop was observed after application of 75%N + Azotobacter + PSB (Tg). The study reveals enhanced number of flowers per plant, maximum size of flowers and maximum flower weight in T8 as compared to other treatments, and the lowest was observed in control.