GROWTH CHARACTERS AS EFFECTED BY ORGANIC, INORGANIC AND BIOFERTILIZER IN AFRICAN MARIGOLD

A field experiment was conducted during the year 2011-2013 with the objectives of studying the influence of different sources of nutrient that comprised of organic inorganic and biofertilizer on stem girth and plant spread in African marigold cv. Sirakole. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design which consisted of 15 treatments, each replicated thrice during Kharif, Rabi and Summer season. The results of the study revealed that various nutrient management practices had significant influence on growth characters in all three seasons. Stem girth and number of branches of plants was highest in the plants supplied with 25% organic and 75% inorganic fertilizer along with biofertilizers in kharif season and desirable in rabiseason. Pooled over the seasons indicated that plants receiving nutrient combination of poultrymanure (25%RDN)+ 75% RD?NP? + biofertilizers exhibited highest stem girth and number of branches of plants in rabi season.