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VOL. 7, ISSUE 1 (2022)
Synergistic effect of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and zinc on ornamental sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) CV. ‘Ring of fire’ as bedding plants
Authors
B Pamela Elisheba, R Sudhagar
Abstract
The present study was carried out to standardize the nutrient requirement of ornamental sunflower used as bedding plants. This experiment was conducted in the Floriculture Unit of the Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University. It was laid out in randomized block design and were replicated thrice. The sunflower cv. Ring of Fire was studied under three different NPK levels (4.5 : 2.25 : 2.25 g m-2, 6.0 : 3.0 : 3.0 g m-2 and 7.5 : 3.75 : 3.75 g m-2 NPK) in combination with three levels of zinc (1.25 g m-2, 2.5 g m-2 and 3.75 g m-2 ZnSO4) and a control. Both NPK and zinc levels showed significant influence on all the foliage parameters, flowering parameters and leaf nutrient content of ornamental sunflower. The values of all the parameters evinced an increasing trend with higher doses of nutrients. The treatment T10 - NPK @ 7.5 : 3.75 : 3.75 g m-2 + ZnSO4 @ 3.75 g m-2 recorded the highest values in terms of all the parameters viz., plant height (106.03 cm), plant spread (4283.56 cm2), number of leaves (27.65), leaf area (834.19 cm2), chlorophyll content (0.97 mg g-1), days to fifty per cent flowering (54.06 days), flowering duration (41.34 days), number of flowers (14.37), flower diameter (14.96 cm), carotenoid content (0.37 mg g-1), leaf nitrogen content (1.71%), phosphorus content (0.97%), potassium content (2.05%) and zinc content (0.0412%) which was on par with T9 – NPK @ 7.5 : 3.75 : 3.75 g m-2 + ZnSO4 @ 2.5 g m-2. Therefore, this study proves that the incorporation of NPK @ 7.5 : 3.75 : 3.75 g m-2 along with ZnSO4 @ 2.5 g m-2 is the ideal fertilizer dose for ornamental sunflowers used as bedding plants.
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Pages:411-415
How to cite this article:
B Pamela Elisheba, R Sudhagar "Synergistic effect of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and zinc on ornamental sunflower (<em>Helianthus annuus </em>L.) CV. ‘Ring of fire’ as bedding plants ". International Journal of Botany Studies, Vol 7, Issue 1, 2022, Pages 411-415
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