Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth characters Italian aster (Aster amellus L.) cv. Purple Multipetal

The present investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of integrated nutrient management on growth parameters of Italian aster (Aster amellus L.) cv. ‘Purple Multipetal’. Different combinations of inorganic fertilizers, organic manures, and bio-inoculants were tested to assess their influence on plant height and plant spread at various growth stages (30, 60, 90, and 120 days after planting). The results revealed that integrated application of nutrients significantly improved growth attributes compared to partial substitution with organic sources alone. Among the treatments, application of 50% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) combined with 50% RDF through vermicompost along with Azospirillum and phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) recorded the maximum plant height and plant spread at all growth stages. In contrast, the lowest growth was observed with 50% RDF combined with 50% RDF through farmyard manure without bio-inoculants. The enhanced growth under integrated treatments may be attributed to improved nutrient availability, biological nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, and secretion of growth-promoting substances by bio-inoculants, leading to increased metabolic and photosynthetic activity. The study highlights the importance of integrating chemical fertilizers with organic manures and bio-fertilizers for sustainable and enhanced growth of Italian aster.