Integrated Zinc and Iron Management Practices for Enhancing Productivity and Flower Quality of Marigold

An experiment was conducted at the Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2021-2022 to evaluate the effect of zinc and iron on growth, quality, yield and biochemical trait of marigold cv. Local Orange. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design (CRD) with eight treatments and three replications. The eight treatments included an untreated control (T1) , 100% RDF (T2) , along with RDF soil application of FYM enriched ZnSO4 and FeSO4 @ 10 and 15 kg ha-1 respectively (T3), along with RDF soil application of FYM enriched ZnSO4 and FeSO4 @ 15 and 20 kg ha-1 respectively (T4), along with RDF soil application of FYM enriched ZnSO4 and FeSO4 @ 20 and 25 kg ha-1 respectively (T5), along with RDF foliar spray of ZnSO4 and FeSO4 each @ 0.5% (T6), along with RDF foliar spray of ZnSO4 and FeSO4 @ 0.5 and 1.0 % respectively (T7) , along with RDF foliar spray of 1.0 % liquid multi micronutrient (T8). The effect was assessed on growth, quality, yield and xanthophyll content in marigold flower. The results revealed that foliar application of ZnSO4 and FeSO4 each @ 0.5 % along with RDF at 20DAT and 35DAT recorded maximum plant growth, flower quality and flower yield. On xanthophyll content foliar application of 1.0 % liquid multi micronutrient along with RDF produced significant effect compared to control. The present study revealed that the integrated application of zinc and iron fertilizer significantly improved the growth, yield, quality of marigold crop. However both soil application and foliar spray of zinc and iron showing significant effect compared to control for better productivity and flower quality of marigold.