Vol. 12, Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
AD Rathod, JM Modhvadia and NJ Sabhaya

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted on clayey soil at the instructional farm of the College of Agriculture, Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (Gujarat) during the rabi season. The experiment followed a randomized block design with three replications, encompassing nine treatments. These treatments involved four plant growth regulators at two levels: GA₃ (gibberellic acid) at 25 and 50 ppm, NAA (naphthalene acetic acid) at 25 and 50 ppm, Seaweed extract at 5% and 10%, and triacontanol at 250 and 500 ppm. Foliar sprays were applied at 25 and 50 days after sowing (DAS), and a control group received water spray. The results indicated that the foliar application of GA₃ at 50 ppm at both 25 and 50 DAS resulted in significantly higher values for various growth parameters, including primary and secondary branches per plant, as well as yield attributes such as the number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, pod length, number of seeds per plant, and test weight. This treatment also exhibited superior seed and stover yields, as well as biological yield, compared to the control (water spray). Notably, the performance of GA₃ at 50 ppm was comparable and not significantly different from GA₃ at 25 ppm and NAA at 50 ppm, especially concerning seed and stover yields. Furthermore, the foliar application of GA₃ at 50 ppm at 25 and 50 DAS resulted in a notable enhancement in nutrient content (N, P, and K) and their uptake by fenugreek seeds and stover. This improvement was more pronounced compared to the control and GA₃ at 25 ppm. Economic analysis of the plant growth regulator treatments indicated that the foliar application of GA₃ at 50 ppm at 25 and 50 DAS was the most profitable, with a net return of 50937 ha^-1, surpassing the other treatments. In summary, the study suggests that optimal crop yield and higher net returns per hectare in fenugreek can be achieved through the foliar application of GA₃ at 50 ppm at 25 and 50 DAS.