Effect of Integrated Nitrogen Management on Growth, Flowering and Flower Yield of Gaillardia (Gaillardia pulchella Foug.) cv. LORENZIANA under Middle Gujarat Conditions

A field experiment on effect of integrated nitrogen management on growth, flowering and flower yield of gaillardia (Gaillardia pulchella Foug) cv. LORENZIANA under middle Gujarat conditions was conducted at Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, B.A. College of Agriculture, Anand Agricultural University, Anand during the year 2009–10. The treatments comprised of organic fertilizers, biofertilizer and three level of nitrogen (100, 75 and 50 kg N/ha) including control 100 kg N/ha + FYM 10 t/ha were tried in Randomized Block Design with three replications. The results revealed that application of 75 kg N/ha + vermicompost 3.75 t/ha produced significantly maximum plant height (73.33 cm), number of branches per plant (36.98) and plant spread (72.68 cm in north - south direction and 68.59 cm in east - west direction). Same treatment recorded significantly minimum days for first flower initiation, 50 per cent flowering, maximum number of flowers per plant, maximum flower diameter as well as weight of individual flower. Significantly maximum flower yield per plant and hectare were recorded in the same treatment. The treatment of 50 kg N/ha + FYM 20 t/ha obtained maximum shelf-life of flower (1.80 days) as compared to control.