Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
Bamerishisha Rymbai, Babli Dutta and Soumen Maitra

Abstract:
The present study was conducted on the role of gibberellic acid (GA₃) on the biomass growth, herbage and other yield attributes of patchouli (Pogostemon patchouli) in Terai zone of West Bengal. The design of the experiment followed was Randomized Block Design with 7 treatments replicated thrice, thus covering 21 plots of 2 m × 1 m. The treatments comprised of: T₁ (control) i.e. no application of GA₃, T₂ (GA₃ @ 50 ppm), T₃ (GA₃ @ 100 ppm), T₄ (GA₃ @ 150 ppm), T₅ (GA₃ @ 200 ppm), T₆ (GA₃ @ 250 ppm) and T₇ (GA₃ @ 300 ppm). GA₃ was applied as foliar spray at monthly interval with the aim to study the effect of gibberellic acid (GA₃) on biomass production of patchouli. GA₃ @ 200 ppm recorded highest monthly increment in plant height (19.52 cm) while maximum number of leaf production month^-1 (86.99) and dry leaf yield (shade dried) (6.2 ton annum^-1) were observed in GA₃ @100 ppm. Benefit: Cost ratio (on the basis of dry leaf yield) became profit oriented (0.60) from GA₃ @100 ppm. Hence, it can be concluded that higher doses of GA₃ (>250 ppm) is detrimental for the crop growth and may not be recommended for patchouli cultivation. It can be applied in patchouli up to 200 ppm, though GA₃ @ 100 ppm is beneficial from economic point of view and hence the dose of the plant growth regulator GA₃ can be reduced upto 100 ppm.