Improvement of Growth and Plant Physiology of Spray Chrysanthemum through Fertigation Ganesh S.5,*, Kannan M.1, Jawaharlal M.2, Arulmozhiyan R.3, Jeyakumar P.4 5CARDS, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003 1Floriculture & Landscaping, TNAU, Coimbatore-641 003 2Horticultural College for Women, Tiruchirapalli-620 009 3AC & RI, TNAU, Tiruchirapalli-620 009 4Department of Crop Physiology, TNAU, Coimbatore-641 003 *email: ganes4u@gmail.com
Online published on 2 January, 2017. Abstract A greenhouse study with an objective of improving the physiological responses of spray chrysanthemum var. Punch under different fertigation levels was conducted. The study comprised of 75%, 100%, 125% and 150% of fertigation level along with foliar spray of 0.2% EDTA chelated micronutrient mixture to each of the treatment. The physiological parameters such as total leaf area, total chlorophyll content, soluble protein, dry matter production, IAA oxidase and Nitrate reductase activity were analyzed at the critical stages and yield parameters were recorded. The results revealed that the 75 per cent of RDF along with 0.2% micronutrient mixture foliar spray (T6) recorded the highest value for all the physiological activities studied viz., total leaf area (1325.77 cm2), total chlorophyll (2.09 mg/g), soluble protein (73.54 mg/g), dry matter production (28.35 g/plant), IAA oxidase (825.10 μg of unoxidised auxin g−1h−1) at the flowering stage and yield parameters like stalk length (132.24 cm), weight of cut stem (63.58 g) and cut stem yield (77.68 stems/m2). Though 100 per cent of fertilizer mixture with micronutrients registered better performance, reduction in the fertilizer dose was also on par with it. The results revealed that T6 (75% RDF @ 12: 3: 12 g NPK/m2 with foliar spray of 0.2% EDTA chelated micronutrient mixture) found to increase the physiological responses of the spray chrysanthemum which ultimately effect on the improvement in flowering and yield per unit area. Top Keywords Fertigation, micronutrients, physiology, flowering, chrysanthemum. Top |