Response of nitrogen fertilization and spacing on yield and oil content of scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér.)

The present investigation entitled “Response of nitrogen fertilization and spacing on yield and oil content of scented geranium (Pelargonium graveolens L’Hér.) was undertaken at Faculty of Forestry, Sher-e-Kashmir university of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Benhama Ganderbal. The different nitrogen fertilizers viz., (25kg N ha-1, 50kg N ha-1 and 100 kg N ha-1) were applied to the scented geranium cuttings that were transplanted in the field at three spacing viz., (25cm×25cm, 50cm×50cm and 100cm×100cm) to observe the effect of nitrogen fertilization and spacing on growth and yield. The effect of spacing, fertilizer and their interaction (S x T) exert significant effect on cuttings and growth parameters viz., number of leaves, number of branches, fresh weight, dry weight, number of roots, leaf area ,root: shoot ratio, essential yield per plant, essential oil/ kg and essential oil /ha under field conditions. Among these fertilizer doses, it was observed that application of 50 kg N ha1 in three equal split doses (first dose one month after transplanting and the second dose one month after the first application and third dose two month after the first application) to the cuttings of scented geranium with 100 x 100 cm spacing was recorded to be the best treatment combination for producing more biomass and yield. The present study exhibits that optimum levels of nitrogen and optimum spacing can be used to improve the growth of cuttings.