Effect of plant geometry and nutrition on yield and quality parameters of transplanted ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi l. Sprague) in the red loamy soils of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

The present investigation entitled Effect of plant geometry and nutrition on yield and quality parameters of transplanted ajowan (Trachyspermum ammi L. Sprague) in the red loamy soils of Andhra Pradesh. was carried out at College of Horticulture, Venkataramannagudem, West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh during Rabi 2017-2018. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design with 18 treatments replicated thrice. The treatments include plant geometries 30 cm x 20 cm, 45 cm x 20 cm and 30 cm x 30 cm at six fertilizer levels i.e. 75% RDF (15: 30:15 NPK kg hectare-1), 100% RDF (20: 40:20 NPK kg hectare-1), 125% RDF (25: 50 :25 NPK kg hectare-1), 150% RDF (30: 60: 30 NPK kg hectare-1), 175% RDF (35: 70: 35 NPK kg hectare-1), and 200% RDF (40: 80: 40 NPK kg hectare-1). Among the different fertilizer levels and plant geometry more number of umbels per plant (189.33), number of umbellate per plant (20.00), number of seeds per umbel (165.67), number of seeds per umbellate (19.00), number of seeds per plant (24.05 thousand) at 200% RDF with plant geometry 45 cm x 20 cm. However, the number of days taken to 50% flowering (55), days taken from flowering to transplanting (115), test weight (1.50 g) and seed yield per plant (7.40 g) were found significant and also maximum with the fertilizer levels 200% RDF with plant geometry 30 cm x 30 cm, but seed yield per hectare (1150.86 kg ha-1) found significant at 200% RDF with plant geometry 30 cm x 20 cm. Among the quality parameters essential oil content (3.25%) was found significantly more with 200% RDF with plant geometry 45 cm x 20 cm. Protein content (19.03%) was found significantly higher at 200% RDF with plant geometry 30 cm x 20 cm.