Effect of pinching on growth and flowering of annual chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium L.)

The Present investigation to study effect of pinching on growth and flowering of Annual Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium) cv. Local was carried out in form of a field trial at the Agricultural Research Station, Binjhagiri, Chhatabar, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Bhubaneswar during 2019-20. Among three different levels of pinching tried, parameters like plant height and flower diameter were observed to be maximum under no pinching (P0) treatment. Besides, plants took minimum time for appearance of first flower bud under this treatment. On the other hand plants with shortest height was recorded under double pinching (ie. pinching after 30 and 45 days of planting) treatment (P2) However, several growth and flowering parameters were improved under this pinching treatment. Parameters like number of leaves and primary branches, number of flowers per plant (248.82 nos), number of flowers per plot (13,046.20 nos) as well as per hectare (15,099768.52 nos)were observed to be maximum under this double pinching treatment. Different levels of pinching could not influence the plant spread significantly. Since the ultimate aim of any crop production programme is to maximize the yield through an ideal crop management practices, double pinching, once after 30 days and again after 45 days of planting was most suitable practice for maximizing flower yield in annual chrysanthemum cv. Local which may be recommended to the flower growers for its commercial cultivation.