Planting time and spacing effects on marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) NK1 orange: a comprehensive study in Nangarhar, Afghanistan

Abstract

Marigolds are widely valued for their ornamental beauty and versatility in landscaping, yet optimal horticultural practices for their cultivation under specific local agro-climatic conditions still need to be determined. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of cultivation time and spacing on growth, flower yield, and flowering duration of Marigolds. A field experiment was conducted on the marigold NK1 orange variety based on a factorial randomized block design. The planting times were February 4th (P1), February 21st (P2), and March 8th (P3), while the spacings were 30 cm × 30 cm (S1), 30 cm × 45 cm (S2), 45 cm × 45 cm (S3), and 45 cm × 60 cm (S4). The P2 treatment significantly (p<0.05) increased plant height, with no differences among the spacing treatments. The number of primary branches per plant and stem girth varied significantly with planting time and spacing. Stem girth positively correlated (r = 0.41) with plant spread under different timings. The P2-S2 treatment influenced the most significant flower size, and the maximum length of the ray floret was also observed in the P2 treatment. Flower size had a positive correlation (r = 0.48) with the length of the ray floret. Additionally, the highest significant (p<0.05) flower fresh weight and flower yield per plant were observed in the P2 treatment. Furthermore, the P2 and P3 treatments had a longer flowering duration than the P1 treatment, with the highest duration of 76 days observed in the P2 treatment. The planting time influences the vegetative growth and flower attributes of marigolds.

Keywords

• Marigold
• Cultivation time and spacing
• Flowering duration
• Flower yield

References

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