MARIGOLD

1.Introduction

In India marigold is one of the most commonly grown flowers and used extensively on
religious and social functions in different forms. Because of their ease incultivation, wide
adaptability to varying soil and climatic conditions, long duration of marigolds have become one
of the most popular flowers in our country. Flowers are sold in the market as loose or as
garlands. Due to its variable height and colour marigold is especially use for decoration and
included in landscape plans.
Cultivation tends to be located close to big cities like Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Mysore,
Chennai, Calcutta and Delhi. The estimated area on which flowers are grown in India is about
1,10,000 hectares. Major growing states are Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra
Pradesh and Maharashtra. Traditional flowers, including marigolds, occupy nearly two thirds of
this area. In northern India in Himachal Pradesh, small scale farmers are growing marigold and
other flower crops for garlands and decoration.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Plantae
 Clade Angiosperms
Order Asterales
Family Asteraceae
Tribe Tageteae
Genus Tagetes

2.Land selection and Preparation

Soils
 The marigolds are hardy and can be successfully grown in different types of soils and
climate. Marigold can be successfully cultivated on a wide variety of soil. The French
marigold grows best in light soil while the African marigold requires a rich, well-
manured and moist soil. However, the soil is deep fertile friable having good water
holding capacity well drained and near to neutral in reaction viz.pH 7.0-7.5 is most
desirable.
Preparation of Land
 The land is ploughed 4-6 times, 45-50 t/ha of farmyard manure is applied at the time of
ploughing , ridges are formed and channels formed at convenient size (60cm apart).
Seedlings are transplanted on the sides of the ridges (40 cm).

3. Season and Climate

Season
 Marigold can be grown three times in a year – rainy, winter and summer seasons. The
season of sowing and transplanting of seedlings for obtaining flower at different seasons
of the year are given below:

Season Sowing time Transplanting

1. Rainy season Middle of June Middle of July
2. Winter season Middle of August Middle of September
3. Summer season First week of January First week of Februay
Climate
 They can grow in almost all seasons except in very cold weather, as they are susceptible
to frost. Marigolds require mild climate of luxuriant growth and profuse flowering. For
seeds germination optimum temperature ranges 180 to 300 C. Soil and planting is carried
out during rainy season winter and summer season hence flowers of marigold can be had
almost throughout the year.
 Mild climate during growing period (14.5°-28.6°C) greatly improves flowering while
higher temperature (26.2°-36.4°C) adversely affects flower production.
 A sunny location is ideal for marigold cultivation. Under shade, it produces more
vegetative growth and do not produce any flowers.

4. Selection of crop/ variety/ planting material

There are 33 species of marigold and numerous varieties. There are two common types of
marigold:
I) The African Marigold (Tagetes erecta) Origin: African marigold: Mexico
II) The French Marigold (Tagetes patula) Origin: French Marigold: Mexico and South America
Botanical Description
African marigold (Tagetes erecta)
The African marigold plant is hardy, annual; about 90 cm tall erect and branched. Leaves
are pinnately divided and leaflets are lanceolate and serrated. Flowers are single to fully double
with large globular heads. The florets are either 2-lipped or quilled. Flower colour varies from
lemon yellow to yellow, golden yellow or orange.
There are also dwarf varieties (20 to 30 cm) having large double flowers. The important varieties
are: Giant Double African Orange, Giant Double African Yellow, Cracker Jack, Climax,
Dubloon, Golden Age, Chrysanthemum Charm, Crown of Gold, Spun Gold.
French marigold (Tagetes Patula)
The French marigold is a hardy annual, about 30 cm tall, forming a bushy plant. Foliage
is dark green with reddish stem. Leaves are pinnately divided and leaflets are linear lanceolate
and serrated. Flowers are small, either single or double The colour flowers may be yellow,
orange, golden yellow, primrose, mahogany, rusty red, tangerine or deep scarlet or a combination
of these colours. The important varieties are: Red Borcade, R colour varies from yellow to
mahogany red.

Signet marigold or golden marigold (Tagetes tenuifolia)

Tagetes tenuifolia is an annual herb sometimes reaching as much as 50 cm (20 inches)
tall. Leaves are less than 3 cm (1.2 inches) long, deeply divided into many small parts. The plant
produces many small flower heads in a flat-topped array, each head with 5 ray florets and 7-
9 disc florets. Golden Gem, Lulu, Pumila, Ursula. However, in the market mostly orange
coloured varieties are preferred.
Indigenous varieties of African Marigold:

1. Pusa Narangi Gainda: The plant of this variety is medium strature, grows a heit of
8085 cm. the plant remain vegetative for 100 days and flowers in 125-135 days. The
flowering duration ranges from 45-60 days. The colour of flower is orange with big
ruffled florets.The yield of variety 25-30 tonnesw/ ha. This is an open pollinated variety
and seed can be multiplied in farmers field.

2. Pusa Basanti Gainda: The plant of this variety are medium strature, which grows a
height of 60-65 cm. the plant remain vegetative for 135 days and takes 140-145 days to
flowers.the plant need to pinch 45-50 days. The variety sown in October and transplanted
during November. It is an open pollinated variety and yield up to 75-100 kg of seeds/ha.

2. Pusa Arpita: It is summer growing marigold. The plant have dense foliage. It is also
an open pollinated variety.
4. Serakal: this variety was identified in Eastern India. The specialty of this variety is uniform
and bushy growth of the foliage and uniform size of flowers as well. The plant is generally
grown by cutting. This plant can be propagated throughout the year.

Planting
Land should be ploughed 2 to 3 times to bring the soil to a fine tilth. One month old seedlings
with 3-4 leaves are fit for transplanting. Watering of nursery bed one day prior to uprooting will
lessen the damage to root system. Uprooting of seedlings and transplanting should be done in the
evening hours for better establishment.
Time of Transplanting
Mid July, mid October and February-March are suitable time for transplanting. At the
time of transplanting they should of 7 to 10 cm height and bear 3-4 true leaves. Transplanting
should be done in well prepared land in the evening hours.
Proper spacing between plants is required for better development of plants and for higher flower
yield. The following spacing is recommended for marigold.
1) African marigold
60 X 30 cm or 45 X 30cm.
2) French marigold
20 X 20cm or 20 X10cm
Propagation
Marigold is generally propagated either by seed or by herbaceous cuttings.
By Seed
Marigold is mainly propagated by seeds, besides crop raised from seeds is tall, vigorous
and heavy bloomer. For raising seedling for one hectare, about 1.0 kg seed is required. For
raising seedlings seeds can be sown in pots, seed boxes or on flat or raised nursery beds.

Seeds should be sown thinly and be covered with light soil or sand or sieved leaf mould
and watering should be done by fine nose.
By herbaceous cuttings
Varieties like Gaint African yellow, Gaint African orange do not set seed. Therefore
these are usually multiplied by herbaceous cuttings. For cutting method, 6-10 cm long cuttings
are made from the apical portion of the shoot and treated with root promoting hormones like IAA
and IBA. Cuttings planted in sand or vermiculite root easily and rooted cutting are transferred in
bed or pots for flowering.

5. Water Management

Marigold takes about 55-60 days to complete vegetative growth and to enter into
reproductive phase. At vegetative and flowering period sufficient amount of moisture in soil is
essential. The frequency and quantity of water mainly depends upon soil and climatic condition.
Though plants tolerate dry weather upto 10 days without irrigation but growth and flower
production is affected adversely. From April to June, frequent irrigation at the interval of 4-5
days is required.
6. Integrated Nutrient Management
INM refers to the maintenance of soil fertility and of plant nutrient supply at an
optimum level for sustaining the desired productivity through optimization of the benefits from
all possible sources of organic, inorganic and biological components in an integrated manner.
6.1) Organic
FYM is given @ 50 tones/ha at the time of field preparation.
6.2) Bio fertilizer
Soil application of 2 kg each of Azospirillum and Phosphobacteria per ha at the time of
planting. Biofertilizers are to be mixed with 100kg of FYM and applied. Application of DNP-G
@ 3-4 bags per acre, PH-50 @ 10 Kg / acre , Amino-G @ 10 Kg/acre results better yield and
also maintain soil fertility.
Spray Bio-max @ 3ml and 5g 19:19:19 per lit of water results better growth and flower
production.
6.3) Chemical fertilizers
Incorporate 20 tonnes of Farm Yard Manure during the last ploughing. Apply 20-40 kg N, 80 kgs
of P2O5 and 80 kgs of K2O per acre. Half of nitrogen, entire dose of phosphorus and potash
should be applied as basal dose, preferably one week after transplanting and rest half nitrogen
should be applied one month after the first application. Irrigate after application.
6.4) Speciality fertilizers
6.41) Soil application : Application of DNP-G @ 3-4 bags per acre, PH-50 @ 10
Kg / acre , Amino-G @ 10 KTg/acre results better yield and also maintain soil fertility.
6.42) Foliar application : Foliar application of Total @ 5g per lit of water, Spray Bio-max
@ 3ml and 5g 19:19:19 per lit of water results better growth and flower production.

6.43) Drip application : Fertigation is a method of application in which fertilizer is

incorporated within the irrigation water by the drip system.
Drip application of Bumper crop kit @ 1 no per acre, and
micronutrient application (Grade II) @ 10 kg per acre.

6.5) Nutrient deficiency symptoms

Primary nutrients

Nitrogen Deficiency: The older leaves become uniformly chlorotic. After considerable time,
older leaves become necrotic and drop off if abscission is possible for the species. Purple to red
discoloration may develop in older leaves as they turn chlorotic in some species of marigold.
Phosphorus Deficiency: The plant becomes severely stunted, and at the same time, the foliage
becomes deeper green than normal. In some species, the older leaves develop purple coloration.
Older leaves then develop chlorosis followed by necrosis. Roots become longer than normal
when the deficiency is moderate.

With foliage plants, older leaves may lose their sheen, becoming dull green followed by red,
yellow and blue pigments showing through the green, particularly on the undersides of the leaves
along the veins. These symptoms spread across the leaf. Older leaves abscise if possible.
Otherwise, necrosis develops from the tip toward the base.

Secondary nutrients

Magnesium Deficiency : Older leaves develop interveinal chlorosis. In several species, pink, red
or purple pigmentation will develop in the older leaves following the onset of chlorosis.

In foliage plants with pinnately (netted) veined leaves, bronze-yellow chlorosis begins at the
upper margins of older leaves, progressing downward along the veins, leaving a green, v-shape
pattern at the top of the leaf. As chlorosis progresses down the leaf, a green, v-shape of tissue
remain sat the bottom. Eventually, the tip, and then the base, become chlorotic.Necrosis follows
chlorosis in the same pattern.
sulfur deficiency : causes unique flower symptoms with changes in colour from bright to pale
yellow and modifications in shape and size of the petals.

Micronutrients

Iron Deficiency. Young leaves of seedlings sometimes develop general rather than interveinal
chlorosis.In late stages, the leaf blade may lose nearly all pigment, taking on a white appearance.

Boron Deficiency. Symptoms include incomplete formation of flower parts such as fewer petals,
small petals, sudden wilting or collapse of petals and notches of tissue missing in flower stems,
leaf petioles or stems. Death of the bud giving rise to branching is followed by death of the new
buds, eventually leading to a proliferation offshoots termed a “witch’s broom.” Short internodes,
crinkling of young leaves, corking of young leaves, stems and buds, and thickening of young
leaves all occur. Chlorosis affects young leaves but not in any definite pattern, resulting in
eventual death of the root tips of short and thick roots.
Molybdenum Deficiency. Symp-tomsapply to poinsettia, the only greenhouse floral crop it is
known to affect. The margins of leaves at the middle of the plant become chlorotic, presenting
asilhouette appearance and then quickly becoming necrotic. Symptoms spread up and down the
plant. These leaves may also become misshapen, resembling a half-moon pattern with some
crinkling.

7) Integrated Pest Management

IPM refers to an ecosystem based strategy that focuses on long term prevention of pest or
their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat
manipulation , modification of cultural practices and use of resistant varieties.
7.1) Insect pest
Red Spider Mite (Tetranychus sp.)

These mites sometime appear on the plant near flowering time. Plants give dusty appearance.

Management
 It can be controlled by spraying Metasystox 25 E C, or Rogor or Nuvacron 40 E C @ 1
ml/l of water.

2) Hairy Caterpillar (Diacrizai obliqua)

Polyphagus insect and caterpillar eats away foliage. This caterpillar eats away foliage.
Management
 Sprays of Nuvon 50 E.C @ 1 ml/l of water.
3)Thrips

Thirps infest young leaves, buds and flowers and suck the sap. Affected leaves get distorted,
while petals of flowers turn brown and dirty.
Management
Two or three sprays of Oxydemeton methyl, Diemthoate 0.05%, at 10 days interval.
4)Mealybug
Mealy bugs are crowdly present in young shoots, stem and leaves. Flattening and crinkled with
dark green leaves. It’s segregate honey like substances because of that leaves are converted into
black sooty mould. Apical parts of the shoots show retarted growth.
Management

 Spray prophenophos or dimethoate @ 2ml/litre.

 Spray Fish oil rosin soap @ 25g/litre

5)Thrips (Thrips tabaci)

Discoloured or distorted plant tissue is clues that thrips were present. Thrips prefer to feed in
rapidly growing tissue. Damaged leaves become papery and distorted. Infested terminals may
discolour, rolled and drop leaves prematurely.
Petals may exhibit “colour break,” which is pale tissue that was killed by thrips feeding before
buds opened.

Management

 Set up yellow sticky trap 20 per acre

 Released Amphelicies cucumeris spider parasitoid.
 Fipronil 1.5ml/litre or azardiractin 3ml/litre.

7.2) Disease Management

1) Damping off
It is caused by Rhizoctonia solani and appears as brown necrotic spots girdling the
radicle, later on extends to plumule and pre-emergence mortality. When infected seedlings are
pulled, the root system appears fully or partially decayed.

Management
 Seeds should be treated with Captan @ 3 g or Carbendazim @ 2.5 g per kilogram
of seeds before sowing.

2) Flower bud rot

It is caused by Alternaria dianthi. The disease mainly appears on young flower buds and
results in dry rotting of buds. Symptoms are less prominent on mature buds but these buds fail to
open.

Management
To control this disease regular spraying of the crop with Dithane M- 45 @ 0.2% should be
followed.

Spraying of Mancozeb (2g/litre of water) effectively controls the flower bud and leaf infections.

3) Powdery mildew (Oidium sp. Leveillula taurica)

Oidium sp. causes powdery mildew in marigold. Whitish, tiny, superficial spots appear
on leaves, later on the whole aerial parts of the plant is covered with whitish powder.

Management
The disease can be controlled by spraying with Karathane (40 E C) @ 0.5% or dusting with
sulphur powder at fortnightly intervals.

Foliar application of sulphur compounds, Carbendazim, Triadimefon, Fenerimol, Penconazole

and Triforine.
Wilt and Stem rot (Phytophthora cryptogea)
The fungus attacks roots and collar portions of the plants. In nurseries the infection
results in damping off and is aggravated by high soil moisture. In the field the infected plants
show wilting.

Management
 Treat soil with Captaf, Mancozeb and Metalaxyl.

Collar and root rot

(Pellicularia filamentosa, P.rolfsii, Pythium ultimum, Sclerotinia sclerotiarum):
It is caused by a number of pathogens and common ones are Phytophtora sp. Rhizoctonia
solani, Pythium sp. Collar rot is caused either in nursery or in grown-up plants. It can be
prevented by soil sterilization or by using healthy seedlings. Rotting of root and collar portions is
noticed resulting in wilting of the plant.

Management
 Soil fumigation and planting healthy seedings

 Soil sterilization and controlled watering help in reducing the disease incidence.
 8. Weed Management
 In marigold control of weeds is an important operation. If the weeds are not removed in
time, a great loss would occur in terms of growth and productivity of marigold
particularly during rainy season. Hoeing and weeding should be done 3 to 4 times during
the crop period to make the soil loose and weed free.

9. Cultural practices
Pinching
 In tall cultivars of African marigold, plants first grow upwards to their final height and
later on produce a terminal flower. After the formation of terminal flower bud, axillary
branches develop which also bear flower. However, if the apical portion of shoot is
removed early, large number of axillary shoots arise resulting in well shaped bushy plant
bearing more number of uniform sized flowers. Removal of apical portion of shoot is
known as pinching. It is observed that pinching at 40 days after transplanting enhances
flower yield.

10. Harvesting
 Marigold flowers are plucked when they have attained full size. Plucking of flowers
should be done in cool hours of the day. The field should be irrigated before plucking so
that flowers keep well for a longer period after harvest. Plucked flowers are collected in
polythene bags or bamboo baskets for carrying to markets.
Yield

 On an average a fresh flower yield of - 200-225 q per acre during rainy season
150 to 175 q per acre in winter
100-120 q per acre in summer can be obtained.

11. Post harvest handling

Packing
 For the local market marigold flowers are taken into gunny bags whereas from distant
market bamboo baskets are used.
Transportation
 Different means of transportation viz. Rickshaws, Buses, Trains are used to carry the
flowers to market depending upon the distance.

12) Cost of Cultivation and Profitability

Item No.of unit Cost / unit Total

1.Preparatory tillage
1.1 Ploughing by tractor with (1time)
M.B. plough 4 hours 500 2000
1.2 Ploughing by tractor with (2 times)
cultivator 4 hours 600 2400
1.3 Ploughing by tractor with (1 times)
Rotavator with planting 4 hours 600 2400

2. Layout
2.2 Planting material (seedlings) 4000 seedlings 2 rupees 8000
2.3 Broadcasting (2 labours for 1 days) 2 labours 300 600

4.Manures and fertilizers

3.1 FYM 45 tonns Rs.600/t 27000
3.2 Urea 50 kg Rs. 6/kg 300
3.3 SSP 80 kg Rs. 9/kg 720
3.4 MOP 80 kg Rs. 15/kg 1200
3.5 DNP-G 100 kg Rs 16/kg 1600
3.6 PH-50 10 kg Rs 70/kg 700
Amino-G 10 kg Rs 70/kg 700
Rs. 200/ t of
3.5 Expenditure on manures application 4 labours FYM 9000
3.6 Expenditure on fertilizer application
(for 1 day) 4 labours 250 1000
3.7 Neem cake 100 kg 800 1600
5. Intercultural operations

4.1 Weeding (for 1 day) Two times 4 labours 250 1000

4.2 Disbudding, Pinching operations (for
1 day) one time 4 labours 250 1000

6.Irrigation application

5.1 Labour charges (1men for irrigation) one labour 5000 5000
5.2 Drip water system 45000
7.Plant protection
6.1 Labour for spraying (2 men per
spray) 2 labours 300 600
6.2 Dimethoate 1000ml 420 420
6.3Fipronil 1000ml 830 830
6.4 Nuvon 1000ml 1000 1000
6.5 Mancozeb 1000g 580 580
6.6 Carbendazim 1000g 550 550

7.Harvesting and Marketing

7.1 Harvesting 4 labours 500 2000
7.3 Transportation 3000 3000
Total 1,22,600/-

yield / acre 20 tonns

Market value/kg 12 rupees
 Total Revenue 2,40,000
Profit/loss = Total revenue - total expences
profit = 1,17,400/-