Growth and yield of niger (Guizotia abyssinica L.f. Cass) as influenced by different spacings and varieties

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2024 at the Experimental Farm of Agronomy Section, College of Agriculture, Latur to study the effect of spacings and varieties on the growth and yield of niger (Guizotia abyssinica L.). The soil was clayey in texture, moderately alkaline, low in available phosphorus, moderate in nitrogen and high in potassium. The experiment was laid out in a Split Plot Design with three varieties PNS-6, Phule Karala, and Phule Vaitarna as main plot and three spacings 45 × 20 cm2, 45 × 10 cm2, and 45 × 15 cm2 as sub main plots. Result revealed that niger variety PNS-6 recorded significantly highest growth attributes viz. number of functional leaves per plant (26.45), leaf area per plant (6.36 dm2), branches per plant (16.26) and dry matter accumulation (30.28 g) and was at par with Phule Karala and found significantly superior over Phule Vaitarana. While Phule Karala attained maximum plant height and found significantly superior over rest of the varieties. PNS-6 also recorded highest yield attributes viz. number of seeds per capsule (43.44), seed yield per plant (2.63 g), seed yield (566 kg ha-1) and biological yield (6127 kg ha-1) which was at par with Phule Karala and found significantly superior over Phule Vaitarana. Wider spacing of 45cm × 20 cm recorded significantly highest growth and yield attributes viz. number of functional leaves per plant (25.95), leaf area per plant (5.92 dm2), number of branches per plant (15.91), dry matter accumulation per plant (30.51 g) and seed yield per plant (2.71 g) which was at par with 45 cm × 15 cm and found significantly superior over 45 cm × 10 cm. Whereas closer spacing 45 cm × 10 cm resulted highest plant height (174.3 cm). The highest seed yield (52 Kg ha-1) and biological yield (6246 Kg ha-1) with closer spacing of 45 cm × 10 cm which was at par with 45 cm × 15 cm and found significantly superior over wider spacing of 45 cm × 20 cm