Growth, flowering, yield, quality and ecomomics of calendula (Calendula officinalis Linn.) as influenced by nutrients and bionoculants Shasidhara G.R., Gopinath G. Division of Horticulture, Gandhi Krishi Vignana Kendra, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, 560 065 Abstract Studies were conducted on celendula (Calendula officinalis Linn.) var. Red Orange, to ascertain the influence of bioinoculants (Azotobacter @ 200 g/ha and VAM @ 15.6 g/plant) with different levels (100% 75% and 50%) of nitrogen and phosphorus on growth, flowering, yield, quality and vase life. The one month old seedlings raised in seed pans were transplanted at a spacing of 30 x 20 cm. Significantly tall statured plants (19.60 cm), higher number of branches (8.87/plant), higher number of leaves (49.30/plant), advancement of flowering (by 2 day), extension of longevity of flowers on the plant (by 2.5 day), duration of flowering (by 4 day), higher yield of flowers in terms of number (19.67/plant) and weight (72.20 g/plant and 14.46t/ha) and also resulted in significantly larger flowers (6.80 cm), longer flower stalks (7.27 cm) and vase life (5.33 day) with application of 135:90:60 kg N, P2Osand K2 O/ha + Azotobacter and VAM. Reducing the recommended dose on N and P by125% and substituting the same with Azotobacter and VAM coupled with application of recommended dose of K resulted in the highest benefit cost ration of 1.82. Top Keywords Azotobactor, calendula, nitrogen, phoshorus, VAM. Top |