MARIGOLD AGRONOMY PRACTICE

INTRODUCTION

·       MARIGOLD (TARGETS ERECTER)IS GROWN AS AN ORNAMENTAL CROP FOR LOOSE FLOWERS AND AS A LANDSCAPE PLANT, AS WELL AS SOURCE OF PIGMENT FOR POULTRY FEED. FRENCH MARIGOLD IS IDEAL FOR ROCKERIES, EDGING, HANDING BASKETS AND WINDOW BOXES. THE PIGMENT IS ADDED TO INTENSIFY THE YELLOW COLOUR OF EGG YOLK AND BROILER SKIN.

·       MARIGOLD IS ADAPTABLE TO DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOIL CONDITIONS AND THUS CAN BE GROWN SUCCESSFULLY IN A WIDE VARIETY OF SOILS. HOWEVER, DEEP, FERTILE, FRIABLE SOIL HAVING GOOD WATER HOLDING CAPACITY IS BEST SUITED. AN IDEAL SOIL FOR MARIGOLD CULTIVATION IS FERTILE SANDY LOAN. MARIGOLD REQUIRED A MILD CLIMATE FOR LUXURIANT GROWTH AND FLOWERING.

LAND PREPARATION

·       LAND IS PLOUGHED THRICE AND FYM AT 25 T/HA IS INCORPORATED. RIDGES ARE FORMED 60 CM APART. NURSERY BED IS PREPARED BY DIGGING THE FIELD THREE TO FIVE TIMES TO HAVE FINE TILTH AND APPLY FYM.

PLANTING METHOD

·       THERE ARE TWO COMMON METHODS OF PROPAGATION OF MARIGOLD:
(1) BY SEEDS AND
(2) BY CUTTINGS.
PLANTS RAISED FROM SEEDS ARE TALL, VIGOROUS AND HEAVY YIELDERS AND HENCE, SEED PROPAGATION IS PREFERRED. MARIGOLD CAN BE RAISED THREE TIMES IN YEAR TO COINCIDE THE FLOWERING DURING SEPTEMBER- OCTOBER, JANUARY -FEBRUARY AND APRIL -MAY. MARIGOLD SEEDLINGS ARE EASILY TRANSPLANTED AND ESTABLISHED IN THE FIELD WITHOUT MUCH MORTALITY. AT THE TIME OF TRANSPLANTING, THEY SHOULD BE STOCKY AND BEAR 3-4 TRUE LEAVES. THIN AND LONG SEEDLINGS SHOULD NOT BE USED. AFTER TRANSPLANTING, A LIGHT IRRIGATION OR WATERING WITH A ROSECAN SHOULD BE DONE. SEEDLINGS ARE PLANTED ON ONE SIDE OF THE RIDGE AT 45 X 30 CM SPACING

FERTIGATION

·       APPLY 45:90:75 KG NPK/HA AS BASAL AND 45 KG N/HA AS TOP DRESSING 45 DAYS AFTER PLANTING.

IRRIGATION

·       ONCE IN A WEEK OR AS AND WHEN NECESSARY. WATER STAGNATION SHOULD BE AVOIDED. DURING SUMMER MONTHS, FREQUENT IRRIGATION AT INTERVALS OF 4-5 DAYS IS REQUIRED.

PINCHING

·       IN TALL CULTIVARS OF MARIGOLD, DEVELOPMENT OF AXILLARY BRANCHES AND FLOWER PRODUCTION ARE INFLUENCED BY THE PRESENCE OF APICAL DOMINANCE. EXPERIMENT ON PINCHING REVEALED THAT REMOVAL OF SHOOT TIPS 40 DAYS AFTER TRANSPLANTING ENHANCED THE FLOWER YIELD; LATE PINCHING AT 50-60 DAYS PROVES LESS EFFECTIVE IN THIS RESPECT.

WEEDING

·       GENERALLY, 3-4 MANUAL WEEDING ARE REQUIRED FOR THE ENTIRE CROP PERIOD.

PLANT PROTECTION

DAMPING OFF:

·       SYMPTOMS APPEAR ON LOWER PART OF SEEDLING AS WATER SOAKED BROWN REGION, NECROTIC RINGS LEADING TO COLLAPSE OF SEEDLING. DRENCHING WITH BAVISTIN OR COPPER OXY CHLORIDE AT 2G/LIT OF WATER IS RECOMMENDED.

HAIRY CATERPILLAR:

·       CATERPILLAR EATS AWAY FOLIAGE. THE PEST IS CONTROLLED BY SPRAYING WITH NUVON OR THIODAN AT LML/LIT OF WATER

HARVESTING AND YIELD

·       MARIGOLD FLOWERS ARE PLUCKED WHEN THEY HAVE ATTAINED FULL SIZE. FLOWERS ARE PICKED ONCE IN 3 DAYS BEGINNING FROM 60 DAYS AFTER PLANTING.
AFRICAN MARIGOLD: 11-15 T/HA
FRENCH MARIGOLD: 8-10 T/HA