INTRODUCTION

Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) is one of the most
popular and commercial flowering annual cultivated in
different parts of the country. It has great demand for
garland, cut flowers and decorative purposes at various kinds
of religious and social functions. Nutrients play an important
role in growth and development of marigold crop. Continuous
and indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers alters the soil
fertility, leading to soil pollution and ultimately poor crop yield.
It is therefore, necessary to restrict their use. However,
considering recent concept of integrated nutrient
management system, which has currently a special
significance in crop production to address the sustainability
problem and is being practiced in several crops. Integration
of biofertilizers and organic manures reduce the consumption
of inorganic fertilizers and increase the quality and quantity
of flower. Efficacy of the inorganic fertilizers was increased
when they are combined with organic manures. Application
of farmyard manure (FYM) increased the population of
micro-flora mainly Azotobacter (Gupta et al, 1999). The

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 4 (2): 134-137, 2009

Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, flowering
behaviour and yield of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

cv. African Giant Double Orange

Dhiraj Kumar1, B.P. Singh and Viveka Nand Singh2
Department of Horticulture

N.D. University of Agriculture and Technology
Narendra Nagar (Kumarganj), Faizabad-224 229, India

E-mail: dhiru1sri@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

         A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, flowering
behaviour and yield of marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) at the main experiment station, Narendra Deva University of
Agriculture and Technology, Narendra Nagar (Kumarganj), Faizabad, during 2004 and 2005 in Randomized Block
Design. There were thirteen treatments involving two biofertilizers, viz., Azotobacter and phosphorus solubilizing
bacteria (PSB) and two levels of nitrogen and phosphorus, viz., (50% and 100%), farm yard manure (FYM) and
control (recommended dose of NPK., i.e., 200:100:100 kg/ha). One month old seedlings were transplanted at a
spacing of 40 x 30 cm. Results revealed that combined application of Azotobacter and PSB with FYM and 50%
recommended dose of nitrogen and phosphorus significantly improved growth, flowering behavior and yield during
both years (2004 and 2005). Application of Azotobacter + PSB + FYM @ 30 ha-1 + nitrogen @ 100 ha-1 and phosphorus
@ 50 kg/ha was found to be best for growth, flowering behaviour and yield of cv. African Giant Double Orange.

Key words: Integrated Nutrient Management, biofertilizers, Tagetes erecta L.

1Present address: C.A. Section, Indian School of Mines University, Dhanbad- 826004,  Jharkhand , India
2Department of Vegetable Science, NDUAT, Faizabad, India

combined application of Azotobacter and phosphorus
solubilizing bacteria along with 75% nitrogen was found to
be most effective in increasing the flower yield of marigold
(Gupta et al., 1999). Keeping in view the above facts, this
experiment was carried out to study the effect of integrated
nutrient management on growth, flowering behaviour and
yield of marigold cv. African Giant Double Orange in relation
to reduced dose of nitrogen and phosphorus.

MATERIAL  AND METHODS

An experiment was conducted during summer
season of 2004 and 2005 at main experiment station
(Horticulture), Narendra Deva University of Agriculture and
Technology, Narendra Nagar (Kumargang), Faizabad in
Randomized Block Design. There were 13 treatments
involving two biofertilizers viz., Azotobacter and phosphorus
solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and two levels of nitrogen and
phosphorus viz., 50% and100%; farm yard manure (FYM)
alone and in combination and control (recommended dose
of NPK). The treatments were recommended dose of NPK



135

@ 200:100:100 kg/ha (T
1
), PSB @ 2 kg/ha (T

2
), Azotobacter

@ 2 kg/ha (T
3
), PSB + Azotobacter (T

4
), FYM @ 30 t/ha

(T
5
), PSB + 50% P + 100% N and K (T

6
), PSB + 50% P +

100% N and K + FYM (T
7
), Azotobacter + 50% N + 100%

P and K (T
8
), Azotobacter + 50% N + 100% P and K +

FYM (T
9
), PSB + Azotobacter + 50% N and P + 100% K

(T
10

), PSB + Azotobacter + 50% N and P + 100% K +
FYM  (T

11
), PSB + Azotobacter + 100% NPK + FYM

(T
12

) and PSB + Azotobacter + 100% NPK  (T
13

).
Azotobacter @ 2 kg/ha was applied through seedlings root
treatments for few minutes before transplanting while PSB
@ 2 kg/ha was applied through soil treatment at the time of
transplanting. The data recorded on various parameters of
growth, flowering behaviour, yield attributes and flower yield
were subjected to statistical analysis (Panse and Sukhatme,
1989).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Growth parameters

All the growth parameters were influenced
significantly due to various treatments of integrated nutrient
management during both experimental years. The data
recorded ( Table 1A and 1B) on plant height at bud initiation
stage revealed that maximum values (99.30 and 102.23 cm)
were observed with the application of PSB + Azotobacter
+ full NPK + FYM (T

12
) and it was found to be significantly

superior over all other treatments followed by T
11

 treatment
during 2004 and 2005. However, maximum values regarding
other growth parameters like stem diameter (2.91 and 3.23

cm), plant spread (3420.03 and 3502.52  cm), number of
primary branches plant-1 (13.59 and 15.69), number of
leaves plant-1 (180.13 and 184.11) and leaf area (189.89
and 194.54 cm2) were recorded with the application of PSB
+ Azotobacter + full K + FYM + half N and P (T

11
). Results

clearly showed that the combined application of PSB,
Azotobacter and FYM along with half nitrogen and
phosphorus proved to be beneficial for robust growth of
plant as compared to other treatments. This might be due to
nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization in combination of
bioinoculants (Azotobacter and PSB) and FYM proved to
be beneficial to fix the atmospheric nitrogen and solubilize
fixed phosphorus in soil and it also secrete growth substances
like auxins, which stimulated the plant metabolic activities
and photosynthetic efficacy leading better growth and
development of plant. Above results are in conformity with
the findings of Kulkarni (1990) in aster, Chandrikapure et
al, (1999) in marigold and Kumar et al. (2003) in aster.

Flowering parameters

Data presented in Table 1a and 1b, on flowering
parameters showed significant response to different
treatments of integrated nutrient management. With respect
to days taken for bud initiation, first flower opening and
flowering span, the application of PSB + Azotobacter +
50% N and P + full K + FYM (T

11
) recorded minimum

number of days for bud initiation (48.20 and 45.12 days)
and first flower opening (9.30 and 11.65 days) and marked
increase in flowering span of marigold (41.39 and 45.79

Table 1a. Effect of INM on plant growth and flowering behaviour of African marigold cv. African Giant Double Orange

Treatment Plant height Stem diameter Plant spread Number of Number of leaves Leaf area Days taken to
(cm) (cm) (cm) main branches per plant (cm2) bud initiation

per plant

2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 2005
T

1
69.09 70.23 1.55 1.87 1705.81 1705.83 7.89 9.99 147.89 151.47 156.64 161.29 52.60 57.56

T
2

65.87 69.45 1.58 1.90 1795.23 1800.57 6.24 8.34 145.34 149.32 125.03 134.41 50.50 53.26
T

3
67.97 72.23 1.77 2.09 1815.34 1820.68 7.83 9.93 161.34 165.25 132.15 142.56 52.30 51.23

T
4

68.46 73.23 1.70 2.02 1905.05 1879.56 7.19 9.29 160.16 164.14 129.75 152.56 51.70 53.00
T

5
75.04 80.56 1.80 2.12 2005.17 2023.32 8.74 10.84 140.56 144.54 139.10 143.75 49.70 51.45

T
6

70.56 75.43 1.72 2.04 1997.02 2004.36 6.25 8.36 145.08 149.06 131.40 136.05 50.09 49.12
T

7
71.55 77.12 1.67 1.99 2110.91 2116.25 8.14 10.24 158.95 162.93 145.16 149.81 51.40 52.42

T
8

72.45 77.23 1.79 2.11 2223.14 2356.23 8.10 10.20 169.89 173.87 150.31 154.96 51.72 56.23
T

9
76.46 81.87 2.41 2.73 2800.56 2754.98 9.13 11.23 172.86 176.04 158.64 163.29 51.80 55.79

T
1 0

78.56 83.56 1.89 2.21 2010.39 2065.13 10.27 12.37 171.77 175.68 184.74 189.39 49.60 45.65
T

1 1
88.47 90.54 2.91 3.23 3420.03 3502.52 13.59 15.69 180.13 184.11 189.89 194.54 48.20 45.12

T
1 2

99.30 102.23 2.61 2.93 3210.27 3323.56 8.23 10.33 169.24 173.22 173.06 177.71 49.23 49.06
T

1 3
80.30 85.46 2.52 2.84 2870.23 2956.54 7.27 9.53 153.54 157.52 165.71 170.36 51.50 55.45

SEm± 2.59 2.70 0.07 0.08 107.99 73.80 0.32 0.33 3.89 5.9 5.60 4.77 0.69 1.69
CD (P=0.05) 7.55 7.89 0.21 0.24 315.21 215.44 0.93 0.96 11.37 17.23 16.36 13.92 2.02 4.92

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 4 (2): 134-137, 2009

Integrated nutrient management in African marigold



136

days) and it was significantly superior over application of
NPK alone, FYM and biofertilizers during both the years.
This might be due to early completion of vegetative growth
and changing of vegetative primordia to reproductive
primordia, probably due to the secretion growth promoting
substances like auxins, gibberellins, vitamins and organic
acids (Rossaria and Basera, 1975), which promoted faster
vegetative growth and ultimately induced early flower bud
initiation and prolonged flowering span. Similar observations
have been recorded by Chandrikapure et al. (1999) and
Gupta et al (1999) in marigold.

Yield and yield parameters

It is evident from Table 2 that the integration of
organic manures and biofertilizers with inorganic fertilizers
showed significant response towards yield attributes and yield
of African marigold. The flower stalk length (10.34 cm in
2004 and 12.46 in 2005), flower diameter (7.10 cm in 2004
and 8.54 cm in 2005), fresh weight of flower (8.18 g in 2004
and 8.33 g in 2005) and number of flowers per plant (28.93 in
2004 and 29.44 in 2005) were highest under treatment T

11

followed by T
12

, whereas minimum values with respect to
above mentioned parameters were recorded in T

1
, T

2
 and T

3

treatments. The significant increase in these parameters might
be due to high nitrogen and phosphorus assimilation from FYM
and 50% nitrogen and phosphorus in association with more
nitrogen fixing and phosphorus solubilizing proficiency and
secretion of hormones by the cultures. These findings
corroborate with that of Yadav et al (2000) in marigold and
Shashidara and Gopinath (2002) in calendula.

Inoculation with combined culture of Azotobacter
and PSB along with FYM and various doses of nitrogen
and phosphorus exhibited yield and shelf life of flower as
compared to application of inorganic fertilizers, organic
manures and biofertilizers alone during 2004 and 2005.
Among all treatments, application of Azotobacter + PSB +
FYM +50% N and P + full K (T

11
) recorded maximum

flower yield per hectare (196.66 and 212.72 q/ha) and shelf
life (7.12 and 7.69 days), followed by Azotobacter + PSB
+ FYM + full NPK and further it was significantly superior
over all the treatments during both the years. The effect of
combined application of Azotobacter + PSB culture in
association with nitrogen and phosphorus with or without
FYM was observed to be better than the application of
culture inoculation alone/combination. This increase in
yield might be due to active and rapid multiplication of
bacteria especially in rhizospher creating favorable condition
for nitrogen fixation and phosphorus solubilization at higher
rate through nitrogen supply by nitrogenous fertilizers and
supply of other nutrients, bacterial secretion, hormone
production and supply of antibacterial and antifungal
compounds, which were favourable for growth and
ultimately increased yield. The flower yield increase in
combination treatments of Azotobacter + PSB + FYM +
50% nitrogen and phosphorus + full potassium might be due
to robust growth and maximum increase in flowering
span, flower diameter and flower number. Similar
observations have been reported by Kumar et al (2003) in
aster, Gupta et al (1999), Chandrikapure et al (1999) and
Syamal et al (2006) in marigold.

Table 2. Effect of INM on yield attributes and yield of African marigold cv. African Giant Double Orange

Treatment Flower stalk Flower diameter Fresh weight of Number of Flower yield Shelf life
length (cm) (cm) flower (g) flowers per (q/ha) (days)

plant

2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 2005
T

1
7.17 11.41 4.58 6.16 5.55 5.70 19.83 22.02 91.63 104.60 3.65 4.22

T
2

6.17 8.20 4.60 6.63 5.88 6.00 16.33 18.03 79.95 90.49 6.20 6.77
T

3
7.87 9.99 5.09 6.65 5.62 5.92 19.85 21.28 92.98 104.86 5.43 6.00

T
4

6.47 8.59 5.40 6.95 6.37 6.28 18.95 21.61 100.49 112.98 3.89 4.46
T

5
7.77 9.89 5.45 7.09 6.77 6.96 20.22 20.65 114.24 119.58 4.89 5.46

T
6

8.12 8.29 5.49 7.16 7.23 6.95 20.43 22.14 132.50 127.26 4.23 4.80
T

7
7.29 9.41 5.52 7.49 6.56 6.54 24.85 25.94 135.96 143.28 5.42 5.99

T
8

6.74 8.86 6.13 7.66 7.24 6.93 20.32 21.92 130.81 126.63 6.96 7.53
T

9
7.24 9.36 6.15 7.77 8.09 7.60 21.43 24.14 144.60 153.99 5.98 6.55

T
1 0

9.27 11.39 6.41 7.80 7.72 7.57 22.99 23.09 138.63 145.90 6.00 6.57
T

1 1
10.34 12.46 7.10 8.54 8.18 8.33 28.93 29.44 196.66 212.72 7.12 7.69

T
1 2

9.28 10.40 6.88 7.93 7.77 7.71 27.60 28.77 166.40 184.95 6.90 7.47
T

1 3
8.14 10.24 6.68 7.88 7.03 6.55 20.57 21.44 120.58 120.57 5.23 5.80

SEm± 0.22 0.31 0.53 0.35 0.19 0.43 0.77 0.88 5.74 8.75 0.23 0.16
CD (P=0.05) 0.65 0.91 1.57 1.03 0.56 1.23 2.25 2.57 16.78 25.55 0.67 0.47

Dhiraj Kumar et al

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 4 (2): 134-137, 2009



137

Maximum gross income (Rs.1,57,328 and 1,70,176),
net income (Rs.1,14,241.29 and Rs.1,23,760.10) and
cost:benefit ratio (2.66 and 2.67) was achieved with the
application of Azotobacter + PSB + FYM + 50% N and P +
full K (T

11
), while maximum cost of cultivation (Rs.45,450.71

and 48,995.25) was observed with the application of PSB +
Azotobacter + 100% NPK + FYM (T

12
) (Table 3). It is also

worth mentioning that inoculation of biofertilizers along with
farmyard manure and 50% nitrogen and phosphorus help in
achieving significant flower yield as compared to all the
combinations of biofertilizers, organic manure and inorganic
fertilizers. Thus, reducing the 50% dose of nitrogen and
phosphorus by the integration of biofertilizers (Azotobacter
and phosphorus solubilizing bacteria) and organic manure
(farmyard manure) is advantageous.

REFERENCES

Chandrikapure, K.R., Sadavarte, K.T.; Panchabhai, D.M.
and Shelke, B.D. 1999. Effect of bioinoculants and
graded doses of nitrogen on growth and flower yield
of Marigold. Orissa J. Hort., 27: 31-34

Gupta, N.S., Sadavarte, K.T., Mahorkar, V.K., Jadhao, B.J.
and Dorak. S.V. 1999. Effect of graded levels of
nitrogen and bioinoculants on growth and yield of
marigold. J. Soils and Crops, 9:80-83

Kulkarni, R.G. 1990. Studies on effect of Azotobacter and
Azospirillum alone and in combination under graded
levels of nitrogen on growth and yield Aster. M.Sc.
Thesis submitted to M.P.K.V., Rahuri

Kumar, P., Raghava, S.P.S. and Misra, R.L. 2003. effect of
biofertilizers on growth and yield of China aster. J.
Orn. Hort., 6:85-88

Panse, V.G. and Sukhatme, P.V. 1989. Statistical methods
for agricultural workers 5th ed., ICAR, New Delhi

Rossaria, A. and Basera, J.M. 1975. Synthesis of auxin,
gibberellins and cytokinins by Azotobacter vinelandi
and Azotobacter beijrnokii related to effects
produced on tomato plants. Plant and Soil, 19:304-
314

Shashidhara, G.R. and Gopinath, G. 2002. Effect of nutrients
and bioinoculants in calendula. In: Floriculture
Research Trends in India. Published by Indian
Society of Ornamental Horticulture. ICAR, New
Delhi. pp. 206-208

Syamal, M.M.; Dixit, S.K. and Kumar, S. 2006. Effect of
bi-inoculants on growth and yield in marigold. J. Orn.
Hort., 9:304-305

Yadav, P. K., Singh, S., Dhindwal, A.S. and Yadav, M.K.
2000. Effect of nitrogen and FYM application on floral
characters and yield of African marigold. Haryana
J. Hort. Sci., 29:69-71

Table 3. Economics of flower production through integrated nutrient management

Treatment Flower yield Gross income Cost of cultivation Net income B:C ratio
(q/ha) (Rs./ha) (Rs./ha) (Rs./ha)

2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 2005 2004 2005
T

1
91.63 104.60 73304.00 83680.00 38494.71 40356.25 34809.29 43323.75 0.90 1.07

T
2

79.95 90.49 63960.00 72392.00 32762.00 34251.00 31198.00 38141.00 0.95 1.11
T

3
92.98 104.86 74384.00 83888.00 32762.00 34251.00 41622 .00 49637.00 1.27 1.45

T
4

100.49 112.98 80392.00 90384.00 32874.00 34363.00 47518.00 56021.00 1.45 1.63
T

5
114.24 119.58 91392.00 95664.00 39382.00 42554.00 52010.00 53110.00 1.32 1.25

T
6

132.50 127.26 106000.00 101808.00 37379.48 39200.30 68620.52 62607.70 1.84 1.60
T

7
135.96 143.28 108768.00 114624.00 44111.48 47615.30 64656.52 67008.70 1.47 1.41

T
8

130.81 126.63 104648.00 101304.00 37369.94 39156.85 67278.06 62147.15 1.80 1.59
T

9
144.60 153.99 115680.00 123192.00 44101.94 47571.85 71578.06 75620.15 1.62 1.59

T
1 0

138.63 145.90 110904.00 116720.00 36254.71 38000.90 74649.29 78719.10 2.06 2.07
T

1 1
196.66 212.72 157328.00 170176.00 42986.71 46415.90 114241.29 123760.10 2.66 2.67

T
1 2

166.40 184.95 133120.00 147960.00 45450.71 48995.25 87669.29 98964.75 1.93 2.02
T

1 3
120.58 120.57 96464.00 96456.00 38718.71 40580.25 57745.29 55875.75 1.49 1.38

(MS Received 29 November 2008, Revised 12 August 2009)

Integrated nutrient management in African marigold

J. Hortl. Sci.
Vol. 4 (2): 134-137, 2009