The Present investigation entitled “Effect of NPK and Bio-fertilizers on growth, yield, quality of China aster (callitephus chinensis) cv. Shashank for cut flower production under agro climatic conditions of Allahabad" was undertaken in The Department of Horticulture, Naini Agriculture institute Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences during winter season of the year 2016-2017. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with 11 treatments replicated thrice. The result revealed that among the different treatments evaluated, T3 performed better when compared to all other treatments with regard to plant height. At 30, 60 and 90 DAT (19.85, 38.70 and 53.60 cm), the plant height was maximum in T3. There are no significant differences were observed in plant spread at 30 DAT, significant differences were noticed at 60 and 90 DAT. The highest plant spread was recorded by T3 with 15.00 and 14.50 cm at 30 DAT, 24.00 and 23.00 cm at 60 DAT, 43.40 and 42.00 cm at 90 DAT for both N-S and E-W direction respectively. The lowest plant spread was recorded by T10 with 9.25 and 9.00 cm, 18.20, and 16.20 cm, 32.00 and 31.60 cm at 30, 60 and 90 days DAT for both N-S and E-W direction respectively. Maximum leaf area (7.97 cm2, 12.65 cm2, and 18.15 cm2 at 30, 60, and 90 DAT) was noticed in plants received 100% NPK + Azospirillum + PSB (T3). The floral attributes viz., days taken for 1st flowering (65.00days), days taken for 50% flowering (68.30days), flower stalk (28.85 cm), flower diameter (7.80 cm) were higher in the 100% NPK + Azospirillum + PSB (T3) imposed plants. The yield per hectare was registered higher in the treatment T6 (7.87 lakhs/ha) which was closely followed by T3 (7.37 lakhs/ ha) and T9 (7.03 lakhs/ha) with regard to post harvest attributes, water uptake, cumulative water uptake, transpiration loss, fresh weight of cut flower, vase life of cut flower was observed. The higher water uptake (43.00 G, 45.00 G, 42.00 G, 40.00 G, 38.40 G, 36.00 G, 35.50 G and 34.00 G) was noticed in the treatment T3. The treatment T6 exhibited significant influence on water loss and recorded least amount of transpiration rate (43.52 G, 41.12 G, 38.62 G, 35.00 G, 34.00 G, 32.65 G, 31.20 G and 30.30 G) during 1st to 8th days respectively. During the entire period of observations of vase life (viz., 1st to 8th day) the fresh weight of cut flower was found to be maximum in treatment T6 (88.80 G, 88.92 G, 87.60 G, 86.41 G, 85.20 G, 86.23 G, 85.20 G and 84.12 G respectively. The maximum vase life (8.67 days) was recorded in T3, which was on par with T6 (8.50 days), and T1 (8.40 days) and which were closely followed by T9 (8.00 days) and T0 (8.00 days). Whereas, minimum vase life noticed in T10 (6.42 days). The content of primary nutrients in the plant was significantly influenced by the treatments. Application of bio-fertilizers significantly enhanced nitrogen content in leaves. The treatment T3 recorded higher N content (4.22%), P content (0.48%) and K content (2.47%) respectively. The data on cost economics of China aster cut flower production lay bears that the treatment T6 registered maximum benefit cost ratio of 4.94 and was followed by the treatments T3 (4.39) and T9 (4.28).

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