Growth parameters .1 Plant height (cm)

The data on plant height of chrysanthemum at 30, 60 days after transplanting (DAT) and at harvest as influenced by spacing and fertilizer levels and their interaction effects are presented in Table. 4 and Fig. 3

As the growth advanced, the mean plant height increased from 39.99 cm at 30 DAT to 88.95 at harvest.

At 30 DAT plant height differed significantly due to spacing (S₁-30x30 cm, S₂-30x45 cm, and S₃-30x60 cm). It was significantly higher with 30x30 cm (41.94 cm) followed by 30x45 cm (39.89 cm) and was less with 30x60 cm (38.12 cm). At 60 DAT, significantly higher plant height (81.72 cm) was recorded with S₁ followed by S₂ (78.70 cm) and was less with S₃ (75.94 cm). Similarly at harvest plant height (92.58 cm) was significantly more with S₁ followed by S₂ (88.42 cm) and less with S₃ (85.86 cm). The treatments S₂ and S₃ were statistically on par with each other at all stages of plant growth.

The plant height differed significantly at all the stages of crop growth due to fertilizer levels. At 30 DAT significantly higher plant height (41.28 cm) was recorded with (F₃-25: 187.5:

125 kg NPK/ ha) when compared to (39.90 cm) with (F2-100:150:100 kg NPK/ha) and was less (38.78 cm) with (F₁-75:112.5:75 kg NPK/ha). At 60 DAT, significantly higher plant height (80.64 cm) was recorded with F₃ when compared to F₂ (78.85 cm) and was less with F₁ (76.86 cm). Similarly at harvest plant height (90.02 cm) was significantly more with F₃ when compared to F₂ (88.80 cm) and less with F₁ (87.03 cm). Treatments F₂ and F₃ were statistically on par with each other at all the stages of plant growth.The plant height did not differ significantly due to interaction effect of spacing and fertilizer levels at all the stages of crop growth. At 30 DAT, plant height was relatively more with S₁F₃ (43.70 cm) followed by spacing and fertilizer levels and their interaction effects are presented in Table 5 and Fig. 4.

As the growth advanced, the average number of branches per plant increased from 4.40 at 30 DAT to 22.06 at harvest.

Number of branches differed significantly due to spacing at 30, 60 DAT and at harvest. Significantly more number of branches (5.00) were recorded with S₃ and followed by S2 (4.47) and least with S1 (3.72). AT 60 DAT, relatively more number of branches (22.36) were noticed with S₃ followed by S₂ (18.49) and lowest with S₁ (16.21). Similarly at harvest relatively more branches (24.62) with S₃ followed by S₂ (22.37) and lowest with S₁ (19.18)_.

Number of branches differed significantly due to fertilizer treatment at 30, 60 DAT and at harvest. Among the fertilizer levels, number of branches were significantly more with F₃

Table 4: Effect of spacing and fertilizer levels on plant height (cm) at different growth stages of annual chrysanthemum

Plant height (cm)

30 DAT 60 DAT At harvest

Spacing

F₁ F₂ F₃ Mean F₁ F₂ F₃ Mean F₁ F₂ F₃ Mean

S₁ 40.83 41.30 43.70 41.94 79.90 82.29 82.96 81.72 91.13 92.93 93.69 92.58

S₂ 38.73 40.20 40.73 39.89 77.34 78.92 79.83 78.70 86.80 88.40 90.05 88.42

S₃ 36.77 38.20 40.00 38.12 73.33 75.34 79.13 75.94 83.17 85.08 89.33 85.86

Mean 38.78 39.90 41.28 39.99 76.86 78.85 80.64 78.78 87.03 88.80 91.02 88.95

For comparing the

means of SEm± CD at 5% SEm± CD at 5% SEm± CD at 5%

Spacing (S) 0.60 1.81 0.99 2.97 1.05 3.14

Fertilizer levels (F) 0.60 1.81 0.99 2.97 1.05 3.14

S x F 1.04 NS 1.71 NS 1.81 NS

S- Spacing F- Fertilizer levels DAT-Days after transplanting S₁: 30 x 30 cm F₁: 75:112.5: 75 kg NPK/ ha NS-Non significant

S₂: 30 x 45 cm F₂: 100: 150: 100 kg NPK/ ha S₃: 30 x 60 cm F₃: 125: 187.5: 125 kg NPK/ ha

Fig.3. Influence of different spacing and fertilizer levels on plant height at 30, 60 DAT and at harvest in annual chrysanthemum

Plate.2.Influence of spacing and fertilizer levels on plant height in annual chrysanthemum

(4.76) followed by F₂ (4.41) and was less with F₁ (4.02) at 30 DAT. AT 60 DAT, relatively more number of branches (20.95) were noticed with F₃ followed by F₂ (19.14) and lowest with F₁ (16.97). Similarly at harvest, number of branches (23.84) were more with F₃ followed by F₂ (21.96) and significantly less with F₁ (20.37).

The number of branches per plant did not differ significantly due to interaction effect of spacing and fertilizer levels at all the stages of crop growth. At 30 DAT, number of branches (5.17) were relatively more with S₃F₃ followed by S₃F₂ (5.03) and S₃F₁ (4.80) which were on par with each other and lowest with S₁F₁ (3.03). AT 60 DAT, relatively more branches (24.76) were noticed with S₃F₃ followed by S₃F₂ (22.65) and lowest with S₁F₁ (15.10). Similarly at harvest relatively more branches (26.20) were noticed with S₃F₃ followed by (24.87) with S₃F₂ and lowest with S₁F₁ (17.27).

4.1.1.3 Number of leaves per plant

The results on number of leaves at 30, 60 DAT and at harvest as influenced by spacing, fertilizer levels and their interaction effects are presented in Table 6.

As the growth advanced, the mean number of leaves per plant increased from 75.71 at 30 DAT to 641.92 at harvest.

Number of leaves differed significantly due to spacing at 30, 60 DAT and at harvest.

At 30 DAT, significantly more number of leaves (81.52) were recorded with S₃ followed by S₂ (75.40) and less with S₁ (70.20). At 60 DAT, number of leaves were markedly more (412.44) with S₃ followed by S₂ (390.63) and lowest (368.78) with S₁. Similarly at harvest relatively more number of leaves (666.25) were noticed in S₃ followed by (641.55) with S₂ and lowest with S1 (617.97).

Number of leaves differed significantly due to fertilizer at 30, 60 DAT and at harvest.

At 30 DAT among the fertilizer levels, number of leaves were significantly more (78.89) with F₃ followed by F₂ (75.68) and less with F₁ (72.56)_. At 60 DAT also the number of leaves were significantly more (404.49) with F3 followed by F2 (390.56) and less (376.79) with F1. Similarly at harvest relatively more number of leaves (657.12) were noticed in F₃ followed by F₁ spacing, fertilizer levels and their interaction effects are presented in Table 7.

As the growth advanced, the mean leaf area per plant increased from 325.29 cm² 30 DAT to 3176.41 cm² at harvest.

Leaf area per plant differed significantly due to spacing at 30, 60 DAT and at harvest.

At 30 DAT, significantly more leaf area (395.72 cm²) was recorded with S3 followed by S2

(324.09 cm²) and less with S₁ (256.06 cm²). At 60 DAT, leaf area was significantly more with S₃ (2466.03 cm²) followed by S₂ (2063.37cm²) and lowest with S₁ (1823.44 cm²). Similarly at harvest relatively more leaf area (3658.83 cm²) was noticed with S₃ followed by S₂ (3167.38 cm²) and lowest with S1 (2703.02 cm²).

Leaf area per plant differed significantly due to fertilizer treatment at 30, 60 DAT and at harvest. At 30 DAT the leaf area was significantly more with F₃ (352.87 cm²) followed by F₂ (323.59 cm²) and lowest with F₁ (299.42 cm²). At 60 DAT leaf area was significantly more with

Table 5: Effect of spacing and fertilizer levels on number of branches at different growth stages of annual chrysanthemum

Number of branches /plant

30 DAT 60 DAT At harvest

Spacing

F₁ F₂ F₃ Mean F₁ F₂ F₃ Mean F₁ F₂ F₃ Mean

S1 3.03 3.87 4.27 3.72 15.10 15.67 17.87 16.21 17.27 18.93 21.33 19.18

S₂ 4.23 4.33 4.83 4.47 16.14 19.10 20.23 18.49 21.03 22.07 24.00 22.37

S₃ 4.80 5.03 5.17 5.00 19.67 22.65 24.76 22.36 22.80 24.87 26.20 24.62

Mean 4.02 4.41 4.76 4.40 16.97 19.14 20.95 19.02 20.37 21.96 23.84 22.06

For comparing the

means of SEm± CD at 5% SEm± CD at 5% SEm± CD at 5%

Spacing (S) 0.10 0.30 0.35 1.06 0.38 1.14

Fertilizer levels (F) 0.10 0.30 0.35 1.06 0.38 1.14

S x F 0.18 NS 0.61 NS 0.66 NS

S- Spacing F- Fertilizer levels DAT-Days after transplanting S₁: 30 x 30 cm F₁: 75:112.5: 75 kg NPK/ ha NS-Non significant

S₂: 30 x 45 cm F₂: 100: 150: 100 kg NPK/ ha S3: 30 x 60 cm F3: 125: 187.5: 125 kg NPK/ ha

Fig.4. Influence of different spacing and fertilizer levels on number of branches at 30,60 DAT and at harvest in annual chrysanthemum

Table 6: Effect of spacing and fertilizer levels on number of leaves at different growth stages of annual chrysanthemum

Number of leaves /plant

30 DAT 60 DAT At harvest

Spacing

F1 F2 F3 Mean F1 F2 F3 Mean F1 F2 F3 Mean

S₁ 67.83 70.10 72.67 70.20 356.71 369.59 380.03 368.78 602.67 618.31 632.93 617.97 S₂ 71.93 74.93 79.33 75.40 375.93 390.73 405.22 390.63 626.90 640.56 657.19 641.55 S₃ 77.90 82.00 84.67 81.52 397.73 411.35 428.23 412.44 651.48 666.03 681.24 666.25 Mean 72.56 75.68 78.89 75.71 376.79 390.56 404.49 390.61 627.02 641.63 657.12 641.92 For comparing

the means of SEm± CD at 5% SEm± CD at 5% SEm± CD at 5%

Spacing (S) 1.25 3.75 4.99 14.95 4.38 13.14

Fertilizer levels

(F) 1.25 3.75 4.99 14.95 4.38 13.14

S x F 2.17 NS 8.64 NS 7.59 22.75

S- Spacing F- Fertilizer levels DAT-Days after transplanting S₁: 30 x 30 cm F₁: 75:112.5: 75 kg NPK/ ha NS-Non significant

S₂: 30 x 45 cm F₂: 100: 150: 100 kg NPK/ ha S₃: 30 x 60 cm F₃: 125: 187.5: 125 kg NPK/ ha

F₃ (2324.01 cm²) followed by F₂ (2175.70 cm²) and lowest with F₁ (1853.13 cm²).Similarly at harvest relatively more leaf area (3479.56 cm²) was noticed in F₃ followed by F₂ (3174.79 cm²) and lowest in F₁ (2874.89 cm²).

The leaf area per plant differed significantly due to interaction effect of spacing and fertilizer levels except at harvest stage of crop growth. At 30 DAT, significantly more leaf area (432.13 cm²) with S₃F₃ followed by (391.43 cm²) with S₃F₂ and lowest with S₁F₁ (224.77 cm²).

AT 60 DAT, significantly more leaf area was noticed in S₃F₃ (2620.68 cm²) followed by (2494.47 cm²) with S₃F₂ and lowest with S₃F₁ (1654.76 cm²). Significantly more leaf area (3924.73 cm²) at harvest was noticed with S₃F₃ followed by (3705.36 cm²) with S₃F₂ and lowest with S₁F₁ (2439.20 cm²).

4.1.1.5 Days to 50 per cent flowering

The data on days to 50 per cent flowering as influenced by spacing, fertilizer levels and their interaction effects are presented in Table 8.

Days to 50 per cent flowering differed significantly due to spacing. Minimum number of days to 50 per cent flowering was noticed with narrow spacing of S₁ (58.89) followed by S₂ (60.56) and maximum with wider spacing of S₃ (62.45).

Significant differences were noticed on days to 50 per cent flowering due to fertilizer levels. Significantly minimum (60.00) days were taken for 50 per cent flowering with F₃ compared to F₂ (60.33) days and maximum (61.56) days with F₁ level of fertilizer. However F₂ and F₁ were statistically on par with each other.

Significant differences were noticed on days to 50 per cent flowering due to interaction effect of spacing and fertilizer levels. Significantly minimum (58.33) days were taken for 50 per cent flowering with S₁F₃ which was on par with S₁F₂ (58.67) days and maximum with S₃F₁ (63.67).

4.1.2 Yield and yield parameters