Assessment of Different Organic Manures on Morphological and Floral Attributes of Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

Aims: The organic content in manure helps soil retain moisture, increases gas exchange, and introduces beneficial bacteria, loosens clayey soil, promoting root growth. Soil with a higher organic content is more resistant to erosion and produces superior crops. Using organic manure decreases farming's environmental impact. Unlike synthetic fertilizers, it recycles waste materials, nourishes the soil, and nurtures crops.

Methods: This experiment was carried out during Rabi 2023-24 at the Organic Research farm Kargunwan ji, Jhansi, Department of Horticulture, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University Jhansi (Uttar Pradesh). African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) cultivar ‘Hazara’ was sown under randomized block design (RBD) with 09 treatment viz., Control, FYM at 10t/ha, FYM at 20t/ha, Compost 10t/ha, Compost 20t/ha, Poultry manure10t/ha, Poultry manure20t/ha, Vermicompost 10t/ha and Vermicompost 20t/ha with 3 replication accommodating spacing (40 × 45) cm2, plot size (2.5 × 2.5) m = 5.0 m2 with total gross experimental area of (23.5 x 9.6) m = 225.06 m2.

Results: Results shows that at harvest, increasing the organic doses at recommended doses clearly expressed maximum morphological characters and floral attributes and was reported under the treatment T9 (vermicompost 20t/ha) followed by treatment T8 (vermicompost 10t/ha) and T6 (poultry manure 10t/ha). The minimum plant height was noticed with the treatment T7 (Water spray).

Conclusion: The results clearly revealed that on application of organic manure in marigold had a positive and significant impact on morphological characters and floral attributes in Marigold. Thus it is recommended to opt for organic cultivation in place of in organic cultivation.