2024, Vol. 9, Special Issue 1

The present investigation entitled “Effect of plug seedling age and pinching methods on growth, flower yield, seed yield and shelf life of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) cv. Local” was carried out during the year October 2021 to March 2022 at the Floriculture Farm, Jambuvadi, Department of Horticulture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat). The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with factorial concept with twelve treatment combinations, consisting three levels of plug seedling age i.e. two week old plug seedling (A₁), three week old plug seedling (A₂), four week old plug seedling (A₃) and four pinching methods i.e. no pinching (P₁), single pinching (P₂), single and a half pinching (P₃) and double pinching (P₄). The treatments were repeated three times. Treatment were evaluated with respect to growth, yield and quality parameters of marigold. Among various treatments, the highest benefit cost ration and net realization obtained with treatment A₃P₂ (four week old plug seedling + single pinching).