Effect of nitrogen and plant growth regulators on yield and economics of ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi L. sprague)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Agronomy farm, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner in Jaipur district of Rajasthan during rabi season of 2016-17 on loamy sand soil. The experiment consisted of four levels of nitrogen (0, 30, 60 and 90 kg/ha) and five PGRs (control, NAA @ 50 ppm at 40 DAS, NAA @ 50 ppm at 40 and 60 DAS, thiourea @ 500 ppm at 40 DAS and thiourea @ 500 ppm at 40 and 60 DAS). The total 20 treatment combinations were tested in factorial randomized block design with three replications. The results showed that application of nitrogen up to 60 kg/ha recorded significantly higher yield viz., seed (1081 kg/ha), straw (3012 kg/ha) and biological yields (4093 kg/ha), net returns (₹ 46310/ha) and B: C (2.29) ratio of ajwain over preceding levels but remained at par with 90 kg N/ha. The results further revealed that foliar application of thiourea @ 500 ppm spray at 40 and 60 DAS significantly increased yield viz., seed (1112 kg/ha), straw (3082 kg/ha) and biological yields (4195 kg/ha) and net returns (₹ 48354/ha) and B:C (2.33) ratio over thiourea @ 500 ppm spray at 40 DAS, NAA @ 50 ppm spray at 40 DAS and control but remained at par with NAA @ 50 ppm spray at 40 and 60 DAS in yield.