Influence of spacing, nutrition and growth regulator on yield and quality enhancement in lavender

Abstract

A field investigation was carried out at the Horticulture Research Station, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Yercaud, Tamil Nadu to standardize the optimum plant density, inorganic fertilizer recommendation and concentration of growth prompting substance for Lavandula angustifolia Mill. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications. The treatments consisted of three levels of spacing (40 x 60cm, 45 x 90cm and 60 x 120cm), three graded levels of inorganic fertilizers (100:40:40, 122:400:40 and 150:40:40 kg NPK per hectare) two varying concentration of GA3 (100 and 200 ppm as foliar application). The study revealed that closer spacing of 40x60 cm recorded more plant height (93.28cm) whereas the shortest plant height was observed in the control where GA3 was not sprayed. The earliest flowering (193.43 days), maximum leaf area / plant (9085.62cm2), chlorophyll content (412.63 mg/g), No. of florets/ flower head (22.18), length of flower head (3.75 cm) was observed under the treatment T8. The flower oil yield/plant was maximum in the treatment T14 (29.23mg/plant). The maximum estimated oil yield/ha was registered under the treatment T2 (10.32kg).