A project report on

Submitted by: Submitted to:

Tirtha Raj paudel Assistant. Prof. Mr. Amit Khanal
Semester: 5th SEM Department of Horticulture, IAAS
Exam roll no.: 143(one hundred forty three) Lamjung campus
ABSTRACT

Salicylic acid is the naturally occurring secondary plant growth regulator belong to group of phenolic
compound and also called defense hormone as it plays the vital role in local and systemic plant
resistance, abiotic resistance (Salt and Drought). It has significant role in plant physiological and
biochemical process like germination, flowering, photosynthesis, respiration, growth and development
of plant. The increase demand of floriculture in Nepal during festivals, religious and social function,
ceremonies and tourism industry. Marigold is the most important flower plant used for various purpose
and play significant role in floriculture of Nepal.
A field experiment was conducted in field of IAAS, Lamjung campus during the period of August of
20157to September of 2017 in single factorial RCBD with three replication and four treatment to study
the effect of different concentration of Salicylic acid (SA) in yield and growth parameters of marigold
like no. of primary and secondary branches, plant height, no. of leaves per branches, stem diameter, days
to flower bud initiation, days to flowering. Flower yield per plot, flower diameter and pedicle length. An
Area of 6m2 was designated for each plant. The data obtained were analyzed by using SPSS 16. Statistical
analysis results revealed that 3mm concentration of SA has significant effect on no. of secondary branch,
flowering, plant height, total yield and days to 100% flower bud initiation than control method (water
application). There is no significant effect on no. of primary branches, days to flower bud initiation, no.
of leaves per branch, flower diameter, stem diameter by using different concentration level of SA and
water spray.

Key words: Salicylic acid, Marigold, Yield and Quality

INTRODUCTION
Marigold (Tegetes spp) is most important annual or perennial herbaceous plant belonging to Asteraceae
family. It is also called Sayapatri or Makhmali phul in Nepali. It is believed that it’s native to North and
South America but found all over the world. Marigold is cross-pollinated flower plant with 0.1 to 2.2 m
tall and having pinnate green leaves and golden yellow flower with ray and disc floret. It is diploid with
2n=24 and tetraploid with 2n=4x=48 chromosome plant. It can be grown wide range of climate from
tropical to temperate with warm and humid climate having well drained loamy soil for successfully
grow. There are many species of Tegetes, among them African marigold (Tegetes erecta), Bigger size
flower and tall plant resistant to drought) and French marigold (Tegetes patula, small flower and dwarf
plant). It is propagated by Seed and micro propagation.
Nepal is the high bio diversified and religious country that endowed with a wide range of climatic
condition which provide the scope of growing large number of flower having religious significant. Being
Nepal is Hindu religious country the use of flower demand is high in Nepal for religious festival,
ceremony, funeral and rituals. About 400sps of flower are cultivated in 147 ha of land (FAN
2015).Marigold is one of the most important flower in Nepal for garden decoration and used as loose
flower for making garland for social and religious function. Marigold is high demanded flower in Nepal
during the Tihar festival in which about 2, 00,000 garland worth of Rs six (6) million have been imported
from India (The Himalayan times news, 2016). Nepal imports Rs 8, 21, 40,000 floriculture product
(2013/14, TEPC) from foreign country like India, Japan, Thailand etc. During fiscal year 2013/14 the
floriculture product with worth of Rs 8.45M were exported and Rs 82.14 Were imported. Flower
transaction work Rs 70 million take place during Tihar in Nepal. This shows that there is a tremendous
scope of growing flower plant in Nepal.
Marigold is the commonly cultivated flower plant traditionally for home and social consumption. It
contributes significantly to national economy as well as floral industry development. It is used for
multipurpose as loose flower for garland in religious and social function and essential oil for the perfume
making (marigold oil), Flavoring in the food and tobacco industries. The orange yellow carotenoid
leucine used as food color found in floret of marigold. Even though establishment floriculture
promotion policy 2012 and establishment of FAN 1992 (FAN, 2015). There is no significantly grow of
flower cultivation. There is biotit and abiotic constraints that prevent the growing of marigold.
Salicylic acid is the natural secondary plant growth regulator belong to group of phenolic compound.
It is also called defense hormone as it plays the vital role in local and systemic plant resistance, abiotic
resistance (Salt and Drought). It has significant role in plant physiological and biochemical process like
germination, flowering, photosynthesis, respiration and growth and development.
 It directly effects the yield and quality of the product. The various concentration of indigenous and
exogenous SA level effects the plant growth. The lack of high yield variety, high biotic and abiotic stress,
the production of marigold is decreased so we treated marigold plant with SA to increase its production.
We analysis the effect of SA in different level(1mM,2mM,3mM) on yield and quality of marigold .

OBJECTIVE:
1. Broad Objective
 To increase the yield and quality of marigold

2. Specific Objective
 To analysis the effect of different concentration of SA in yield attribute parameters of marigold
 To know about the salicylic acid and its role in plant growth and development
 To be able to know on data analysis and project report writing.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Research Domain:
The field experiment was carried out in the field of Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS),
Lamjung Campus, Sundarbazar -7 Municipality, Lamajung, western development region, Nepal. It is
situated mid hills about 8oomasl of humid subtropical climate region. The total annual rainfall is
2800mm/annual in this area. The geographical position of the farm is at 28o 7’ to 28o 10’ N, 84o24’latitude
to 84o 28’ longitude.

Design of experiment:
The single factor experiment was laid out following Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD)
having in 3 replications and 4 treatments (Concentration of SA).

Treatment number Treatment combination

T1 1mm of SA
T2 2mm of SA
T3 3mm of SA
T4 Water spray

An area of 20m ×4.5m was divided into three equal blocks. Each block was divided into four plots of
sizes of 3m ×2m where four treatment combinations were allotted randomly. There were 12 plots of equal
sizes of 6 m2.
Layout of the experimental field:
The selected field was laid out into the desired sizes of plots with the help of bamboo pegs, rope and
measuring tape. The field was divided into three block for three replication and four treatment.

R3T2 R3T4 R2T4 R2T2 R2T1 Left plot R1T1

R3T3 R3T1 R2T3 R1T3 R1T2 R1T4

Fig: Layout of the experimental field

Cultivation practices

1. Planting material :
The hybrid variety of marigold was brought from Floriculture Association of Nepal (FAN) as
seedling material. About 5oo seedling of marigold with 15-20 cm height was taken from FAN.

2. Preparation of Salicylic concentration

We determined the different concentration of SA by volumetric analysis. At first stock solution
of 250mm was made and diluted to make 1mm, 2mm, and 3mm by adding 4ml, 8ml and 12ml in
1 ltr from working solution.

3. Field Preparation
The experiment field which selected was previously grown rice seedling. At first, we removed
all the rice seedling by hand and ploughed with spade at depth of 15 cm and weed and grumbles
were removed to obtain food soil tilth. The task was started 2074-03-32.An area of 3m×2m was
ploughed to form a fine raised bed of 15cm high and make drainage and irrigation channel with
50cm width spaced.

4. Planting of Seedling
The hybrid seedling of marigold plant was planted in fine raised bed with 5cm depth. The space
between the rows and plants is 50cm × 50cm. Light irrigation was given with the use of water
can.

5. Application of Salicylic Acid

The prepared different concentration of salicylic acid as 1mm, 2mm, and 3mm was sprayed as
foliar on the plant dated on 2074-04-25 to analysis the effect of SA on plant growth and
development.

6. Stalking
The staking was done on 2074-04-29 to support the plant from lodging and breaking of stem
problem with the help of bamboo stick of 1m height and fastened by rope.

7. Weeding
All the plots were hand weeded once after 30 DAT with the help of spade, sickle. The field was
heavy infested by weeds.

8. Earthing up
All the individual plant was earthing up at 35 DAT with the help of spade to help the plant for
anchoring and standing on soil.
9. Harvesting
After the full bloom of flower, the flowers were harvested from selected plants dated on 2074-
05-26.

10.Data collection:
Various data were recorded on the following parameter of the sample plants during experiment.
The four plants were randomly selected from each plant and tagged it for collection data. The
outer rows plants were excluded from random selection to avoid border effect.

a) Plant height:
Before the harvesting the flower plant, the height of selected plant was taken from base of plant
to greatest height attained by individual leaves using measuring tape scale dated in 2074-05-26.
Number of branches
Primary and secondary both branches were recorded in a weekly interval after spraying of SA for
three times. The primary branches are counted easily easily and distinct branches with large
leaves are taken as secondary branches.

b) Number of leaves per branches

The no. of leaves per branch was counted on weekly intervals while counting, the immature leaves
and yellow senescent leaves were discarded. Full matured photosynthetically active leaves were
counted. 1st, 2nd and final data was taken on 5th of Bhadra, 12th of Bhadra and 19th of Bhadra
respectively.

c) Stem diameter
Stem diameter was taken on 66 DAT and base diameter of three plant was taken and averaging
stem diameter for each replication of all treatment.

d) Days to first flower bud

The data was collected when diameter of the bud was 0.7 cm and the length of bud was 2 cm from
selected plant.

e) Days to 100% flower bud

The data was collected when the flower bud was in convinced sized. The first data was taken in
2074-05-15 in plot no. two where 100% flower bud initiation was complete and final whole flower
bud initiation in plot was taken in 26th Bhadra.

f) Days to flowering
No. of flowers were counted after first flower appeared dated on 2074-05-12, After that weekly
interval once time and final days before harvesting no. of flowers were counted.
 g) Flowers yield per plot
Mature flowers from plot were picked and weighed by weighing machine and finally average
was taken from all plot to determine the flower yield per plot.

h) Flowers yield per plant:

Mature flowers from each selected four individual plants were picked and weighed individually
and finally average to determine flowers yield per plant

i) Flower diameter
Before harvesting, the diameter of the three flowers from each sample plants from all plots was
measured using scale and finally average flower diameter was calculated for each replication of
all treatment

j) Length of pedicle
The length of flower stalk from its origin on the stem or branch to base of flower was measured
by using scale.

K. Data analysis:
The data obtained for different parameters were statistically analyzed to find out the
significance difference of SA application on yield and quality attributing parameters of marigold.
We used SPSS software version 16.The significance of the difference among the treatment
combination mean comparison was estimated by tukeys and Duncan at 5 % level of signified.

HYPOTHESIS

Null-hypothesis: Ho: T1=T2=T3=T4

Alternate hypothesis: H1: T1≠T2≠T3≠T4

RESULT AND DISCUSSION:
The experimental findings obtained were statistically analyzed to study the effect of different
concentration level of salicylic acid on the yield and quality of marigold. The result obtained
In the experiment we conducted, the main aim was to study the effect of different level of nitrogen on
growth and yield of radish (40 days variety). The result obtained from the observation is discussed below
a. Primary branches
The effect of different concentration of salicylic acid on no of primary braches was found to be
insignificant. Which means the application of either water or any of the concentration of SA i.e.
1mm to 3mm has same effect on no. of primary branches.

b. Secondary branches
Analysis of average no. of secondary branches shows that effect of 3mm of SA is statistically at
par with water spray while they are significant difference from the 1mm and 3mm of SA. The
concentration of 1mm SA is statistically at par with 2mm of SA on no. of secondary branches.

The high concentration of SA (3mm) effects on no. of secondary branches due to its effects on
vegetative growth of plant.SA plays the vital role in vegetative growth by changing in the
hormonal status or improvement of photosynthesis. It regulates of photosynthesis by effecting
leaf and chloroplast structure (Popova, m2000), Stomatal closer, chlorophyll and activity of
enzyme like RUBISCO (Chandra and Bhatta, 1998).

c. Days to flower bud initiation:

Analysis of days of flower bud initiation shows non-significant difference between the treatment
i.e. Effect of all the concentration level of SA is statistically similar with water application.

d. Flower number:
Analysis of flower number shows significantly difference between the treatments i.e. 3mm of SA
shows the greatest effects on flower number which statistically at par with water spray. The effect
of 1mm of SA on flower number is statistically at par with 2mm of SA.

The application 3mm of SA shows the positive effects on flowering of plants because it effects
on florigen enzyme and also varnalization. Initially it was found that SA promotes flower bud
formation (Lee and Skoy, 1965) and identified as the transmission factor secreted in aphid
honeydew responsible for inducing photosynthesis (Cleland and Ajami, 19770)
e. No. of leaves per branches:
The effect of different concentration of salicylic acid on no. of leaves per braches was found to be
insignificant. Which means the application of either water or any of the concentration of SA i.e.
1mm to 3mm has same effect on no. of leaves per branches.

f. Flower diameter :
Analysis of flower diameter shows nonsignificant difference between the treatments i.e. effect of
all concentration of SA shows statistically same effect on flower diameter which statistically at
par with water application.

Treatment /( Days to Symbol:

salicylic acid in flower
mm) Primary secondary bud
NS Non-significant
branches branches initiation
* Significant
1 2a 1.67c 38.67a ** Highly significant
2 2.42a 2.14b 43.33a
3 3.08a 2.69a 38.67a
control (water
spray) 2.17a 2.72a 38a
Significance(LSD) NS(0.051) **(0.00) NS(0.133)

Total Days to
number flower 100
of leaf Plant_ yield flower Flower
Flower _per height flower per plot bud Pedicel Stem yield
number branches diameter gm initiation length cm diameter per plot
1.83b 43.78a 149.54a 7.61a 234.67b 57a 33.71a 1.32a 23.58b
1.33b 40.39a 142.75a 7.82a 256.67b 52.67b 36.33a 1.34a 42.483a
3.67a 47.72a 148.54a 8.68a 438.67a 50.67b 37.39a 1.16a 49.5a
4.42a 48.17a 133.67b 8.3a 278.67b 50b 32.89a 1.25a 19.67b
**(0.00) NS(0.054) *(0.017) NS(0.138) **(0.00) *(0.032) NS(0.088) NS(0.343) **(0.00)

Table: Effect of various concentration of Salicylic acid and control (water) in various
parameters of yield and quality of marigold
g. Total flower yield per plot
Analysis of total flower yield perp lot shows highly significantly difference between the
treatments i.e. 3mm of SA shows the greatest effects on flower yield per plot than among
treatment level. The application of 1mm, 2mm is statistically at par with water.
The increase of flower yield due to application of SA is that SA directly effects on physiological
and biochemical process of plants. Flower yield is increased due to increase of no. of flower and
prevent the plant from biotic and abiotic stress. SA acts as regulatory signal mediating plant
response to abiotic stress like drought (Munne, 2003), Heat (Knight, 2000) and osmotic stress
(Borsani et all, 2001) and also it acts as defense hormone as local and systemic response against
to plant pathogen.

h. Days to 100% bud initiation

The application of different treatment shows significant difference effect on days to 100% bud initiation.

The 1mm of SA shows high effects on 100% bud initiation and 2mm and 3mm of SA shows statistically at
par with water application.

The application of SA effects on 100% bud initiation due to it induces flowering by up-regulating
specific flowering transition genes and repressing genes related to biotic stress (Dezar et al.,
2011).

i. Pedicle length
Analysis of pedicle length shows nonsignificant difference among the treatment. The effect of all
level of concentration of SA is statistically at par with water spray.
j. Stem diameter :
All the treatment shows nonsignificant difference effect on stem diameter. Effect of all the level
of SA shows statistically similar effect which is statistically at par with water spray.
 CONCLUSION

The present experiment was carried out at the farm of the IAAS Lamjung campus, Sundarbazar-7
municipality, Lamjung during August, 2017 to September 12, 2017. The experiment was conducted to
observe and analysis the effect of different concentration of Salicylic acid in yield and quality of Marigold
flower plant .The experiment consisting 4 treatments and was laid out in RCBD with 3 replications.

From the result analysis we came in conclusion that the foliar application of different concentration of
Salicylic acid effect the yield and quality of marigold from the control water spray. The application of
SA has highly significant effect in no. of secondary branches, no. of flowers, plant height, total yield per
plot and days to 100% flower bud initiation. The SA application has no significant effect on no. of
primary branches, days to flower bud initiation, no. of branches, pedicle length and stem diameter. The
application of 3mm SA shows high effect than other level of concentration of SA on different growth
and yield Parameters.

We recommended to use the 3mm concentration level of Salicylic acid as foliar application on marigold
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APPENDICES

Days to Number of
Primary Secondary flower bud Flower leaf per
treatment replication branches branches initiation number branches
1 1 2 1.333333333 36 2 41.91666667
1 2 2 1.666666667 40 1.5 43.66666667
1 3 2 2 40 2 45.75
2 1 2.25 1.75 44 1.25 40
2 2 2.75 2.25 40 1.75 43.91666667
2 3 2.25 2.416666667 46 1 37.25
3 1 3.25 2.416666667 36 4.25 48.16666667
3 2 3.75 2.916666667 40 3.75 50
3 3 2.25 2.75 40 3 45
4 1 2 2.333333333 38 5 52.41666667
4 2 2.25 2.75 40 4 47.08333333
4 3 2.25 3.083333333 36 4.25 45

Total Days to
flower 100 Flower
yield flower Pedicel yield
Flower _plot bud length Stem per
Plant height diameter gm initiation cm diameter plot
159.125 8.1 212 56 32.33 1.16 22
149.5 7.42 268 60 34.3 1.49 25.5
140 7.3 224 55 34.5 1.3 23.25
144.375 7.35 250 51 34.5 1.37 40
143.875 7.7 236 50 38 1.94 46
140 8.4 284 54 36.5 1.3 42.5
157.5 8.85 440 48 39.16 1.45 53.5
148.125 9.1 432 51 35.5 1.33 42.5
140 8.1 444 53 37.5 1 52.5
137.375 8.83 256 47 30.5 1.16 20
130 8.45 280 50 35.66 1.28 21
133.625 7.9 300 53 32.5 1.3 18

Table: Data obtained from the field on different growth and yield parameters
Fig : Data collection of Pedicel Length of Flower from Marigold Plant.