Effect of Nitrogen Levels and Cuttings (Main and Ratoon) on Growth and Flowering of Golden Rod (Solidago canadensis L.) During Summer and Rainy Season Planting

The recently introduced under cultivation plant species Solidago canadensis L. is commonly known as ‘Goldenrod’ belongs to family Asteraceae. It is a perennial in nature and unexploited flower crop cultivated in limited areas for its flower stalks. Now a day farmers are growing this crop commercially in a limited area. The trial was conducted to evaluate the nitrogen levels and type of cuttings during two seasons (summer and rainy) with six nitrogen levels (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 kg N/ha). The nitrogen was applied once during main harvest. Main harvest had pronounced effect on vegetative parameters during summer and rainy plantings except number of suckers and fresh weight of plant, which was higher during both plantings. While earliest flowering (80.20 days) was observed in ratoon harvesting during summer planting. While, under rainy planting the main harvest provided more number of panicles per plant and per hectare. The application of 250 kg N/ha had pronounced effect on vegetative growth parameters which had increased all vegetative growth parameters. Nitrogen at 250 kg N/ha produced highest longevity of inflorescence, yield of panicles per plant and per hectare during summer and rainy planting, respectively Earliest flowering was found at 200 kg N/ha (73.70 days) during summer and at 250 kg N/ha (98.10 days) during rainy season.