Study on effect of pinching and gibberellic acid on growth, flowering and yield of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) under Prayagraj agro-climatic condition

The present experiment was conducted to determine the response of Pinching and Gibberellic acid on growth, flowering and yield of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) in the Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Science, Prayagraj, (U.P.) during the monsoon season 2019. 19 treatments were included in the trial viz; T0 Without pinching +spraying, T1 Pinching 30 days, T2 Pinching 35 days, T3 Pinching 40 days, T4 Pinching 45 days, T5 Gibberellic acid 100PPM, T6 Gibberellic acid 200PPM, T7 Gibberellic acid 300PPM, T8 Pinching 30 days + 100 PPM Gibberellic acid, T9 Pinching 30 days + 200 PPM Gibberellic acid, T10 Pinching 30 days + 300 PPM Gibberellic acid, T11 Pinching 35 days + 100 PPM Gibberellic acid, T12 Pinching 35 days + 200 PPM Gibberellic acid, T13 Pinching 35 days + 300 PPM Gibberellic acid, T14 Pinching 40 days + 100 PPM Gibberellic acid, T15 Pinching 40 days + 200 PPM Gibberellic acid, T16 Pinching 40 days + 300 PPM Gibberellic acid, T17 Pinching 45 days + 100 PPM Gibberellic acid, T18 Pinching 45 days + 200 PPM Gibberellic acid, T19 Pinching 45 days + 300 PPM Gibberellic acid were tested in three replication. The experiment of design was randomized block design. The results reveal that Pinching and GA3 treatments had significant response on plant height, number of branches per plant, number of node per plant, stem diameter plant spread per plant, number of flowers per plant, flower diameter, number of bud per plant, fresh weight of flower, dry weight of flower, flower yield per plant, flower yield per plot, and flower yield per hectare. The maximum plant height (56.750cm), Number of branches per plant (86.833), Plant spread (73.990), Number of node per plant (461.383), Stem diameter plant spread per plant (4.090), Number of flowers per plant (101.387), Flower diameter per plant (9.337), Number of bud per plant (101.887), Fresh weight of flower (12.160), Dry weight of flower (1.960), Flower yield per plant (495.333), Flower yield per plot (1.321kg), and Flower yield per hectare (6.604 t/ha.) were produced by the treatment (T13) Pinching 35 days + 300 PPM Gibberellic acid. It was the best treatment for good vegetative as well as yields Production.