Efficacy of plant growth regulators on productivity, quality and profitability of berseem (Trifolium alexandrium)

摘要

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (Rabi) season of 2018-19 and 2019-20 at Agronomy Research Farm of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana, Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, for evaluating various plant-growth regulating chemicalson quality-seed production of berseem or Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrium L.). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design, replicated thrice with 8 foliar spray treatments, viz.; T_1, control; T_2, 2 sprays of water at weekly interval, starting from flower initiation; T_3, 2 sprays of potassium nitrate @ 2% at weekly interval; T4, 1 spray of salicylic acid @ 75 ppm; T_5, 2 sprays of salicylic acid @ 75 ppm at weekly interval; T_6, 1 spray of potassium nitrate @ 2% followed by 1 sprayof salicylic acid @ 75 ppm after 1 week interval; T_7, 2 sprays of potassium nitrate @ 2% alternatively sprayed with 2 sprays of salicylic acid @ 75 ppm; and T_8, 1 spray of cytokinins @ 50 ppm, applied at flower-initiation stage. The results revealed that, significantly higher yield attributes [capsules/m2 (304), seeds/capsule (50.5), seed weight/5 capsules (0.63 g), 1,000 seed weight (3.97 g)] and seed yield (4.45 q/ha) of berseem were recorded under T7 (2 sprays of potassium nitrate @ 2% alternatively sprayed with 2 sprays of salicylic acid @ 75 ppm) which was followed by (fb) T6, (1 spray of potassium nitrate @ 2% fb 1 spray of salicylic acid @ 75 ppm alternatively at weekly interval). Thus, application of 2 sprays of potassium nitrate @ 2% alternatively sprayed with 2 sprays of salicylic acid @ 75 ppm at flowering stage may be recommended to farmers for getting sufficient green fodder in addition to higher recovery of quality seed in profitable manner from dual-purpose berseem.