Effect of planting geometry and nitrogen on growth, flowering and yield of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium L.)

A field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of the year 2013–14 to study effect of planting geometry and nitrogen on growth, flowering and yield of chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium L.) at College of Horticulture & Forestry, Jhalawar (Raj.). The experiment consisted of 16 treatment combinations of four spacings (S1-30 cm x 30 cm, S2-30 cm x 45 cm, S3-45 cm x 45 cm, S4-45 cm x 60 cm) and four nitrogen levels (N0-0 kg, N1-100 kg, N2-150 kg, N3-200 kg N/ha). The treatment S4N3 (45 cm x 60 cm spacing + N 200 kg/ha) recorded the maximum plant spread (2643.24 cm2), number of primary branches per plant (41.90), number of leaves per plant (1013.20), leaf width (3.85 cm), leaf length (6.34 cm) and duration of flowering (64.33 days while the treatment S1 N3 (30 cm x 30 cm spacing + N 200 kg/ha) had the maximum plant height (92.58 cm), flower yield per plot (11.85 kg) and flower yield per ha (182.87 q). Application of nitrogen at different levels and planting geometries significantly influenced the number of days taken for first flower bud appearance and 50 percent flowering with the earliest first flower bud appearance (47.33 days) and 50 percent flowering (64.83 days) at S1 (30 cm x 30 cm spacing), similarly nitrogen at N0 (N 0 kg/ha) had the earliest first flower bud appearance (46.75 days) and 50 per cent flowering (63.25 days), while nitrogen at N3 (200kg/ha)had the latest first flower bud appearance (55.33 days) and 50 per cent flowering (69.42 days).