Effect of potting media containing industrial by-products on growth and flowering of chrysanthemum cv. Basanti

Abstract

The present study was conducted during 2018 and 2019 at ICAR-Directorate of Floricultural Research, Pune with chrysanthemum cv. Basanti to evaluate the possibility of using industrial by-products, viz., fly ash and press mud as potting media components for production of potted chrysanthemum. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with eleven treatments consisting different proportions of fly ash, press mud, vermicompost and cocopeat. Among the treatment combinations tested, fly ash, press mud, cocopeat and vermicompost in 12.5:37.5:25:25 proportion was found to be the best potting media. Pooled data indicated that chrysanthemum cv. Basanti grown in potting media consisted of press mud, cocopeat and vermicompost in 12.5:37.5:25:25 proportion recorded maximum plant height (32.34 cm), average plant spread (35.31 cm), flower diameter (3.94 cm), number (113.16) and yield of flowers plant-1 (226.60 g). The results indicated that, both fly ash and press mud can be effectively utilized as potting media components in cv. Basanti.