Influence of plant growth regulators on agronomic performance in cluster bean, (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub.)

Abstract

A Field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, DAV University, Jalandhar during summer season of 2024 to find out the influence of plant growth regulators on agronomic performance in cluster bean. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and 10 treatments viz. T₁(control), T₂ (IAA @ 50 ppm), T₃ (IAA @ 10 ppm), T₄ (IAA @ 150 ppm), T₅ (GA₃ @ 50 ppm), T₆ (GA₃ @ 100 ppm), T₇ (GA₃ @ 150 ppm), T₈ (NAA @ 50 ppm), T₉ (NAA @ 100 ppm) and T₁₀ (NAA @ 150 ppm). HG-2-20 variety of cluster bean was used for the experiment. Foliar application of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), Gibberellic acid (GA₃) and Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Observation were recorded on days to 50% germination, plant height (cm), number of branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, dry matter accumulation (g), days to 50% flowering, number of days to pod formation, pod length, number of pods per plant, weight of pods (g), number of seeds per pod, seed yield per plant (g), seed yield per plot (g), seed yield per hectare (q/ha), seed index (g), biological yield (q/ha), harvest index, cost of cultivation, gross return, net return and benefit cost ratio. Analysis of variance (OPSTAT) revealed that significant difference among the treatments for all the character under study. The result leads to a conclusion that application of GA₃ and IAA resulted better in growth and yield attributes, nutrient uptake of soil and economics of cluster bean and thus can be recommended to farmers.