Efficacy of plant growth regulators on productivity, quality and profitability of berseem (Trifolium alexandrium)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the winter (Rabi) season of 2018–19 and 2019–20 at Agronomy Research Farm of the Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana, Agricultural University, Hisar, Haryana, for evaluating various plant-growth regulating chemicals on quality-seed production of berseem or Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrium L.). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design, replicated thrice with 8 foliar spray treatments, viz.; T1 , control; T2 , 2 sprays of water at weekly interval, starting from flower initiation; T3 , 2 sprays of potassium nitrate @ 2% at weekly interval; T4 , 1 spray of salicylic acid @ 75 ppm; T5 , 2 sprays of salicylic acid @ 75 ppm at weekly interval; T6 , 1 spray of potassium nitrate @ 2% followed by 1 spray of salicylic acid @ 75 ppm after 1 week interval; T7 , 2 sprays of potassium nitrate @ 2% alternatively sprayed with 2 sprays of salicylic acid @ 75 ppm; and T8 , 1 spray of cytokinins @ 50 ppm, applied at flower-initiation stage. The results revealed that, significantly higher yield attributes [capsules/m2 (304), seeds/capsule (50.5), seed weight/5 capsules (0.63 g), 1,000 seed weight (3.97 g)] and seed yield (4.45 q/ha) of berseem were recorded under T7 (2 sprays of potassium nitrate @ 2% alternatively sprayed with 2 sprays of salicylic acid @ 75 ppm) which was followed by (fb) T6 , (1 spray of potassium nitrate @ 2% fb 1 spray of salicylic acid @ 75 ppm alternatively at weekly interval). Thus, application of 2 sprays of potassium nitrate @ 2% alternatively sprayed with 2 sprays of salicylic acid @ 75 ppm at flowering stage may be recommended to farmers for getting sufficient green fodder in addition to higher recovery of quality seed in profitable manner from dual-purpose berseem.