Effect of growth regulators and rooting media on biochemical attributes in leaves of air layered Kagzi lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) plants and their economics

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to study the “Effect of growth regulators and rooting media on bio-chemical attributes in leaves of air layered kagzi lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) plants and their economics”, at the Horticulture Garden of Department of Fruit Science, Chandra Shekhar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (U.P.) during the rainy season of 2018-19 and 2019-20. The experiment was laid out in Factorial R.B.D. with three replications and twenty treatments. Two levels each of IBA and NAA (2000 ppm and 4000 ppm) four rooting media i.e. soil, F.Y.M., vermicompost and moss grass were taken and these media were also taken as unit of control. Data on biochemical attributes i.e. carbohydrate, nitrogen, C/N ratio, chlorophyll a and b content and economics of requiring plants through air layering was also worked out during respective years. NAA 4000 ppm significantly maximized carbohydrate (3.54 and 3.59%), nitrogen (1.05 and 1.11%) and chlorophyll a and b (0.93, 0.97 g/m2 and 0.96, 1.03 g/m2) contents during corresponding years. Minimum values showed to the tune of (3.15 and 3.17%), nitrogen (0.84 and 0.90%) and chlorophyll a and b (0.83 and 0.88 g/m2 and 0.81, 0.91 g/m2) under IBA 2000 ppm treatment. C/N ratio was significantly maximized (3.75 and 3.64) under IBA 2000 ppm and poorest ratio 3.34 and 3.23 were noted under NAA 4000 ppm during respective years. Moss grass proved significantly more effective and enhanced the carbohydrate (3.14 and 3.44%), nitrogen (0.96 and 1.01%) and chlorophyll a and b contents (0.99, 1.03 g/m2 and 0.98, 1.09 g/m2) than the rest of treatments. Minimum content of carbohydrate (3.20 and 3.22%), nitrogen (0.89 and 0.92%) and chlorophyll a and b (0.77, 0.81 g/m2 and 0.81, 0.87 g/m2 recorded under soil respectively during corresponding years. Soil media showed maximum C/N ratio registering 3.62 and 3.52 against the minimum of 3.53 and 3.40 ratio were observed under moss grass and vermicompost respectively during first and second year of study. Interacting treatment NAA 4000 ppm × moss grass proved significantly effective and enhanced carbohydrate content (3.68%) against the minimum of 3.11% under IBA 2000 ppm × soil during first year. Comparison of treatment with control when observed the former significantly revealed higher carbohydrate (3.24 and 3.34%), nitrogen (0.92 and 0.98%) and chlorophyll a and b content (0.89, 0.94 g/m2 and 0.91, 0.98 g/m2) than the later. Later produced i.e. carbohydrate (3.04 and 3.07%), nitrogen (0.78 and 0.83%) and chlorophyll a and b content (0.74 and 0.77 g/m2 and 0.77and 0.83 g/m2). Control recorded significantly higher C/N ratio (3.91 and 3.63) against treatment (3.57 and 3.45) during corresponding years of investigation. Regarding Benefit-cost ratio (B:C) IBA 4000 ppm recorded maximum (2.56) ratio followed by NAA 4000 ppm (2.40). Similarly, vermicompost achieved the maximum (1.78) ratio followed by moss grass (1.77) and interactive treatment IBA 4000 ppm × vermicompost showed maximum 2.72 ratio followed by NAA 4000 ppm × vermicompost (2.69 ratio). In this regards the minimum B:C ratio was obtained viz. IBA 2000 ppm (2.29) soil media (1.66) and NAA 2000 ppm × soil (1.98) respectively with two years average data.