African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) is one of the most important flower crops grown commercially throughout India as a loose flower for worshipping, garland making, and garden display. The productivity and quality of flowers is greatly influenced by the quantity and source of nutrients. At present, these nutrients are primarily supplied through chemical fertilizers. The indiscriminate use and complete reliance on the use of chemical fertilizers has also led to deterioration of soil health, thereby affecting sustainable flower production. Keeping these points in view, a field experiment was conducted on African marigold cv. “Orange Culcuttia” at the Horticultural Research Farm, Indira Gandhi Agricultural University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications and twelve treatment combinations comprised of bio-organics (Cow Urine and Vermicompost), bio-fertilizers (Azospirillum and Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria) and NPK fertilizers. Application of Azospirillum + Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria + 5% Cow Urine + 50% recommended dose of “N” through Vermicompost + 50% recommended dose of NPK fertilizer was most effective in increasing vegetative growth parameters, such as plant height, number of branches, plant spread, as well as flower yield parameters like number of flowers, flower diameter, fresh and dry weight of flowers, flower yield, flowering duration, shelf life, and it also had the maximum benefit:cost ratio. Thus, use of inorganic fertilizers conjointly with bio-fertilizers and organic manures resulted in excellent vegetative growth and flower yield attributes in African marigold.

Marigold (Tagetes spp.) is one of the most popular flower crop commercially exploited for multipurpose use. Apart from great demand of marigold flowers, the plants use in phytoremediation and allelopathic effect has been greatly exploited. Marigolds can be used against plant parasitic nematodes as a cover crop in rotation, as an intercrop, or as a crop residue amendment. Successful use of marigold as trap crop is well on record whereas its use as potential natural herbicide needs to be explored. Essential oils obtained from marigold possess antibacterial and antifungal properties and are widely used in perfumery industries, as insect repellent and as flavor component. Its extracts can be explored as alternative natural insecticides towards the stored products. Use of marigold for its medicinal value for curing various diseases has been well documented. Carotenoids extracted from flowers are being used commercially in pharmaceuticals. Marigold extract also finds application in coloring foods and various dairy products. Marigold petals are used as additives for poultry feed, as they provide bright colors in egg yolks, skin and fatty tissues and also as emulsifying gum. Silver and gold nanoparticles have been synthesized from marigold for antimicrobial activity. This review paper discusses the research undertaken for various uses of marigold plant worldwide.

IndianJournals.com - Gateway to access, disperse and preserve knowledge!

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of weed management practices on weeds and fruit yield of brinjal during winter season of 2009–10 at Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur (Chhattisgarh). Parthenium hysterophorus was the major weed in the experimental field. Application of pendimethalin (extra) (0.64 kg/ha) pre-transplanting + one hand weeding at 40 DAT + pendimethalin (extra) (0.64 kg/ha) at 45 DAT as post-emergence effectively controlled the weeds and increased the fruit yield of brinjal followed by Pendimethalin (1.0 kg/ha) pre-transplanting + one hand weeding at 45 DAT. The maximum net return (Rs. 157386/ha) as well as benefit: cost ratio (3.57) was also obtained with pendimethalin (extra) (0.64 kg/ha) pre-transplanting + one hand weeding at 40 DAT + pendimethalin (extra) (0.64 kg/ha) at 45 DAT.

An experiment was conducted at Jagdalpur, Bastar, Chhattisgarh during Kharif season of 2011 to evaluate the growth and yield performance of different entries of Costus speciosus (Koenig) Sm. commonly called as Kewkand. The experiment was laid out in RBD with three replications and twelve treatments comprising of twelve genotypes. Maximum plant height, number of leaves per plant, inter-nodal length and number of flowering plants per hill was observed in entry IC-542329. The results indicated that maximum number of tillers per hill was observed in entries IC-542327, IC-542328, IC-542330 and IGKK-1. Higher values for leaf length (29.63 cm), leaf width (10.30 cm) and flower length (18.10 cm) were recorded in entry IC-542330. Entry IC-542327 was observed to have maximum flower diameter, number and girth of rhizomes as well as highest total rhizome yield. However, entry IGKK-1 had at par values with entry IC-542327 for length of side rhizomes, number of rhizomes and total rhizome yield. No significant difference among the genotypes was observed for weight of 100 seed weight which ranged from 1.69–1.71g.