Standard Nitrogen Application for Chrysanthemum Cultivar Snowball

The experiment was conducted to standardize the nitrogen application for the standard potted Chrysanthemum morifolium cultivar Snowball, during the year 2015-16 in Ludhiana. The nitrogen (as urea) was applied twice in mid-September and mid-October, in six different treatments i.e. control, 100 mg/pot, 200 mg/pot, 300 mg/pot, 400 mg/pot and 500 mg/pot. The different levels of nitrogen doses had significant (p<0.05) effect on the vegetative growth and flowering, however, the application of 500 mg/poturea gave maximum plant height (73.03 cm), number of leaves (31.02), ischolar_main suckers per plant (12.10), flower size (17.67 cm) and delayed flower bud appearance, colour break stage and full bloom (70.55, 85.17 and 115.28 days, respectively), however, deteriorated flower quality with respect to reduced flowering duration (6.15 days). Therefore, it was concluded that 300 mg urea/pot applied twice was optimum dose of nitrogen application for quality flower pot production.