Impact of planting geometry and nutrition studies on the performance in chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev)

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of planting geometry and nutrition studies in chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev). The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randamized Complete Block Design with three factors in two replications at college of horticulture, Bengaluru. Result of the study revealed that, Among the varieties, vegetative growth and flower yield parameters were found maximum in cv. Scent Yellow (V₁), whereas, superiority in flowering attributes were observed in cv. Purple (V₂). Among different levels of spacing, closure spacing of 30 x 22.5 cm showed maximum plant height and earliness in flowering attributes, whereas, wider spacing of 45 x 45 cm resulted in better vegetative growth along with flower yield parameters. However, spacing of 45 x 30 cm exhibited maximum flower yield per hectare with higher benefit cost ratio. Among different levels of nutrition, N₃ (180:225:150 kg NPK ha^-1) showed better vegetative growth along with longer duration of flowering (104.38 days), higher number of flowers (101.03) and flower yield per plant (303.21 g). However, spacing of 45 x 30 cm exhibited maximum flower yield per hectare (14.71 T ha^-1). Among interactions, maximum plant height (65.12 cm) was noticed in V₁S₁N₃ combination and V₁S₃N₃ treatment combination exhibited maximum plant spread in East-West, North-South direction (78.49 cm and 78.23 cm, respectively), longer duration of flowering (123.80 days), higher number of flowers and flower yield per plant (163.40 and 510.79 g, respectively). Maximum flower yield per hectare (21.78 T ha^-1), was noticed in V₁S₂N₃ combination. V₂S₁N₁ combination showed early flower bud initiation and days to 50 per cent flowering (48.10 and 92.60 days, respectively).