The present investigation entitled “Impact of beneficial microorganisms on the growth, yield and shelf life of African marigold” was conducted in the instructional cum research farm department of horticulture, School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, Medziphema, during the month of November 2021 to March 2022. A field experiment was conducted in Randomized Blocks Design with three replications. Bio-formulations were used as a treatment to assess the impact of beneficial microorganisms on the vegetative, flowering and yield parameters of African marigold. Treatment consists of Water soaked (Control), PSB, Jeevamrutha, Microbial consortia, IEM (Indigenous effective micro-organisms), Pseudomonas fluorescence, Trichoderma harzianum, results reported that highest plant height (71.73 cm), number of primary branches (12.30), plant spread (51.20 cm2) and leaf length (14.3cm), leaf width (6.50 cm), earliest flower bud initiation (54.43 days), first flower opening (60.86 days) and 50% flowering opening (75.46 days), flower diameter (5.86 cm), fresh flower weight (10.70 g), duration of flowering (41.13 days), number of ray florets per flower (193.66), number of flowers per plant (39.40), the weight of flower per plant (421.57 g), weight of flower per plot (6.745 kg), shelf life (4.70 days), and estimated yield/ha (263.47 q) were recorded with the use of Trichoderma harzianum. The present investigation suggests further work to understand impact of beneficial microorganisms that contribute to increasing the growth, yield and shelf life of African marigold.
