The present investigation entitled “Effect of nitrogen and spacing on growth and yield of China aster (Callistephus chinensis L. Nees.) cv. Powder puff mix” was carried out during 2019-20 at Agricultural Research Station, Chhatabar; Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bhubaneswar. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with factorial concept where eight treatment combinations were replicated thrice. The treatment comprised of two levels of spacing between the plants viz., 60 × 40 cm (S1), 40 × 30 cm (S2) and three levels of nitrogen doses i.e. 200 kg/ha (N1), 150 kg/ha (N2) and 100 kg/ha(N3). Nitrogen was applied in two split doses i.e. 50 % in basal and rest 50% as topdressing after 40 days of transplanting along with recommended dose of phosphorus and potassium. The vegetative growth of flowering and total yield and quality of flowers were influenced by different levels of spacing and nitrogen. Maximum reading in plant height (42.68 cm), number of leaves (21.39) was recorded in 60 cm × 40 cm spacing, while highest reading in plant spread (74.37), earliness in bud initiation (64.83 days), number of flower per plant (15.96), flower diameter (8.41 cm), lowest blooming period of bud (10.75 days), highest duration of flowering in plot (40.25 days) and highest yield (1.29 kg) along with vase life (11.08 days) was recorded in spacing 40 cm × 30 cm. Similarly, the best in case of vegetative parameters such as maximum plant height (15.07 cm), number of leaves (20.57), plant spread (76.70 cm)was observed for nitrogen dose of 200 kg/ha; while the best in case of the yield parameters viz., number of flowers per plant (17.93), flower diameter (9.27 cm), earliness in bud initiation (62.33 days), lowest blooming period (9.33 days), highest duration of flowering in plot (44 days), highest weight of fresh flower (10.83 gm), highest yield (1.56 kg) with vase life (11 days) was observed in nitrogen dose of 150 kg/ha

Spacing, Nitrogen, China Aster, Cut flower, Growth and yield

The investigation concluded in the spacing and nitrogen doses required for cultivation of China Aster Cv. Powder puff mix in Bhubaneswar condition along with the recommended dose of phosphorus and potassium. In this view, it is opined that though wider spacing of 60 cm × 40 cm with 150 kg/ha of nitrogen was proved to be the best with respect to the vegetative character, but moderate spacing of 40 cm × 30 cm along with 150 kg/ha of nitrogen provided the reasonably good vegetative characters along with better flower yield in course of quantity along with quality. So, it is recommended to follow the plant spacing of 40 cm between the rows and 30 cm between the plants (in between the rows) and nitrogen dose of 150 kg/ha along with recommended dose of phosphorus and potassium for China Aster Cv. Powder puff mix

Swagat Ranjan Mund, Sukirti Mohanty, Subhendu Jena and Debi Archana Nayak (2025). Effect of Nitrogen and Spacing on Growth and Yield of China Aster (Callistephus chinensis L. Nees.) cv. Powder Puff Mix. Biological Forum, 17(6): 09-13