Enhancing performance and profitability of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) through growing methods and bio-regulators in semi-arid region

Abstract

The study revealed the different treatment combination of growing methods (vertical and horizontal) and foliar application of bio-regulators (control, NAA at 200 ppm, GA₃ at 150 ppm, ethrel at 200 ppm, and salicylic acid at 150 ppm) in bottle gourd significantly influenced the yield, quality and profitability of bottle gourd in semi arid conditions. The results indicated that the vertical trailing system registered significantly higher vine length (70.12 cm), number of nodes (25.86), number of leaves (24.73), leaf area (518.18 cm2), fruit length (17.70 cm), number of fruits/ vine (4.08), fruit weight (0.78 kg), fruit yield/ vine (3.19 kg), TSS (3.96 %), total sugar (3.07 g/100 g), crude protein (0.51%) and Ascorbic acid (11.72 mg/100g). Similarly, foliar application of GA₃ at 50 ppm registered maximum vine length (67.83 cm), number of nodes (25.76), number of leaves (24.30), leaf area (523.14 cm2), fruit length (17.92 cm), number of fruits/ vine (4.13), fruit weight (0.77 kg), fruit yield/ vine (3.16 kg), TSS (3.91%), total sugar (3.08 g/100 g), crude protein (0.52 %) and Ascorbic acid (11.44 mg/100g) and greater net returns as compared to control.