Flowering induction of clove to reduce its yield fluctuation by using a plant growth regulator

Abstract

The main problem in clove cultivation is yield fluctuation which occurred every 2-4 years. It is usually caused by internal factors such as photosynthates, nutrition, and plant growth regulators that control the flowering process. The study was conducted from January to December 2015 on +30 years old-cloves at a farmer’s plantation in Sumedang, West Java. The trial was arranged in a randomized block design with three replications. The treatment consisted of 13 treatments of paclobutrazol application: (1) control, (2) 2500 ppm paclobutrazol, given eight weeks after harvest (WAH); (3) 2500 ppm paclobutrazol, 10 WAH, (4) Paclobutrazol 2500 ppm, 12 WAH. (5) 2500 ppm paclobutrazol, 14 WAH, (6) Paclobutrazol 2500 ppm, 16 WAH, (7) Paclobutrazol 2500 ppm, 18 WAH, (8) 5000 ppm paclobutrazol, 8 WAH, (9) Paclobutrazol 5000 ppm, 10 WAH, (10) 5000 ppm paclobutrazol, 12 WAH, (11) Paclobutrazol 5000 ppm, 14 WAH, (12) 5000 ppm paclobutrazol, 16 WAH, and (13) 5000 ppm paclobutrazol, 18 WAH. Results indicated that paclobutrazol 5000 ppm applied at 16 WAH gave a higher new shoot number and yield than control within three consecutive years (2014, 2015, and 2016). The range of chlorophyll content was 0.08-0.15%.