Effect of different sources and levels of potassium on growth, flowering and yield of African marigold (<i style="">Tagetes erecta</i> Linn.) cv. ‘Siracole’

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal during two winter seasons (2003-2005) to investigate the sources (as potassium chloride and potassium sulphate) and optimum potassium level (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg/ha) for irrigated African marigold, <i style="">Tagetes erecta</i> Linn. cv. ‘Siracole’. Sources of potassium failed to influence the plant growth, flower yield, leaf N, P, K and chlorophyll content and anthocyanin in petals. The characters showed a positive response to different levels of potassium fertilizer application. Yield of flowers increased with increased quantity of potassium fertilization from zero to 200 kg/ha. Plant height, both primary and secondary branches, plant spread, flowers size, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and chlorophyll content of leaf and anthocyanin content in petals were also directly related to potassium level.