Vol. 9, Special Issue 10, Part W (2025)

The study on “Effect of different growing media on growth and flower yield of calendula under shade net condition (Calendula officinalis L.)” was conducted at the College of Horticulture, VNMKV, Parbhani (Maharashtra) during 2024-25. The experiment was laid out in a CRD with nine different media combinations and three replications. Treatments included soil, sand, vermicompost, cocopeat, perlite, leaf mould and black soil in different proportions. Results showed that T₃ (Soil + Sand + Vermicompost + Cocopeat) performed best, recording maximum plant height (28.63 cm), plants spread (30.14 cm), leaves (72.13), branches (22.40) and leaf area (64.61 cm²). It also showed early bud initiation (23.77 days), early flowering after bud initiation (2.36 days), 50% flowering (45.43 days), larger bud (1.41 cm) and flower diameter (5.20 cm), longer flower life (7.73 days) and higher yield (36.50) flowers per plant, (4.77 g) fresh weight, (0.52 g) dry weight. Postharvest soil NPK status was also highest in T_3.