Response of China Aster (Callistephus chinensis L. Nees) cv.Poornima to Different Levels of Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Medium Black Soil

The present investigation was carried out at Horticulture Research Station, Jambavadi Farm, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat) during October 2014 to March 2015. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design. The treatments comprised with two factors (1) nitrogen with four levels i.e., 150 kg N ha-1(N1), 200 kg N ha-1(N2), 250 kg N ha-1 (N3), 300 kg N ha-1 (N4 ) and three levels of phosphorus i.e. 100 kg P2O5 ha-1 (P1), 150 kg P2O5 ha-1 (P2 ), 200 kg P2O5 ha-1 (P3) with three replications. Both the highest levels of N and P significantly improved growth parameters i.e. plant height (51.56 cm), plant spread (328.67 cm2), secondary branches per plant (17.67), fresh weight (137.22 g) and dry weight (69.78 g) in treatment N4 (300 kg N ha-1) whereas, in case of phosphorus the plant height (47.08 cm), plant spread (316.00 cm2), number of branches per plant (16.92), fresh weight (137.00 g) and dry weight (72 g) were noted maximum in treatment P3 (200 kg P2O5 kg ha-1). Maximum flowering span (71.00 days), number of flowers per plant (24.78) and yield of flowers (22.67 t ha-1) were registered in 300 kg N ha-1 treatment. Similarly, maximum flowering span (62.50 days), number of flowers per plant (23.58) and yield of flowers (22.08 t ha-1) were registered in P3 (200 kg P ha-1). Thus, for cultivation of China aster in medium black soil the fertilizer application at the rate of 300 kg N ha-1 in two splits (first half as basal application and remaining half at 30 days after transplanting) and 200 kg P2O5 ha-1 as basal dose has been found to be the best.