Integrated organic fertility improves growth, flowering and profitability of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) under open field conditions

Abstract

Organic nutrient management is important for sustainable floriculture, especially where farmers want to reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers. A field experiment was carried out during rabi season of the year 2025-26 at Career Point University, Kota, (Rajasthan) to test fourteen treatments of farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC), Jeevamurtha (JM) and Ghana Jeevamrtha (GJM), applied alone and in combinations, against a recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) as control. The trial was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. Plant height, plant spread, days to first bud initiation, number of flowers and buds per plant, flower yield per plant and per hectare and economic returns were recorded. Analysis of variance showed significant treatment effects (p < 0.05) for all major traits. The integrated treatment T14 (FYM + VC + JM + GJM, 25% each) gave the tallest plants (91.6 cm), highest spread (52.6 cm), earliest flowering (54.0 days to first bud; 61.5 days to 50% flowering) and the highest flower yield (1.16 kg plant–¹; 21.2 t ha–¹). In terms of economics, T14 gave the maximum gross return (` 318,000 ha–¹) and net return (` 222,500 ha–¹), while T12 (FYM + JM + GJM) gave the best benefit: cost ratio (3.46). Overall, the study shows that combining more than one organic source gives better agronomic and economic results than using a single organic input and this can work as a practical, low-cost option for sustainable marigold cultivation under semi-arid Indian conditions.