Response of Nitrogen To Flower Production and Flower Size in Carnation (Dianthus Caryophyllus L.) Cv. Marguerite Scarlet

The response of N applied and the flowers production and flower size and relation between N, P and K content of leaves and flower production was studied in carnation. The experiment was conducted at the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana during the year 1974–75. Maximum production of flowers was obtained when nitrogen was applied at 40 g N/m2. Higher doses of nitrogen did not prove to be economical as they reduced the number of the flowers. The flower size was maximum with nitrogen application of 20 g N/m2. Higher doses of N, however, had a deterimental effect on the size of the flowers. The maximum number of flowers were produced against 5.37 per cent N content in the leaves. As the N content in the leaves exceeded this particular limit, the production of flowers was reduced. The number of flowers was increased with the increase in the P content in leaves but only upto. 31 per cent. The production of flowers was markedly reduced when P content in leaves was exceeded beyond. 31 percent. At 3.8 per cent K content in leaves maximum production of flowers was obtained.