Study of foliage nutrient status and plant growth in Kinnow mandarin as influenced by growth regulators (2, 4-D & NAA) and micronutrients (Zn & B)

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted at Experimental farm, ICAR-Central Institute for Arid Horticulture, Beechwal, Bikaner (Rajasthan), during the year 2016. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) having 15 treatments with three replications each. Foliar application of plant growth regulators and micro nutrients viz. NAA (20 & 40 ppm), 2,4-D (10 & 20 ppm), Zinc sulphate (0.5%), Borax (0.5%) alone and in combinations were applied twice in the month of April and May on 14 years old Kinnow trees. The initial vegetative growth of plant was recorded before imposing treatments in the month of April, 2016 and final at harvest in the month of December, 2016. Statistically, growth parameters increased maximum in terms of height and plant spread with treatment NAA 20 ppm + ZnSO4 0.5% as compared to control. Maximum zinc content (40.09ppm) was recorded in the leaves of Kinnow with foliar spray of NAA 20 ppm + ZnSO4 0.5% while maximum boron content (41.52 ppm) was recorded with foliar spray 2,4-D 10 ppm + Borax 0.5% as compared to control.