Yield, economics, nutrient uptake and quality of coriander (Coriandrum sativum) under different sowing time, varieties and plant growth regulators

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out in rabi seasons of 2011-12 and 2012-13 at Agronomy Farm, S.K.N. College of Agriculture, Jobner (Rajasthan), to assess the effect of sowing time and plant growth regulators on yield, economics, nutrient uptake and quality of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) varieties grown under irrigated loamy sand soil of semi-arid eastern plain zone of Rajasthan. The experiment consisting of two sowing times, viz. normal (1st week of November) and late (3rd week of November), three varieties, viz. RCr-41, RCr-435 and RCr-480 and five plant growth regulators treatments (PGRs), viz. triacontanol @ 1 000 ppm, brassinolide @ 1.0 ppm, thiourea @ 1 000 ppm and NAA @ 50 ppm, including one control (water sprayed) treatment were replicated thrice in split-plot design. The 2-year results revealed that the normal sown coriander crop produced significantly higher seed (by 31%) and stover yields, total N and P uptake (by 20 and 25%), per-day productivity (by 17%) and net returns (by 59%), partial factor productivity (PFP), nutrient harvest index (NHI), protein (by 21%) and oil (by 41%) yields compared to late sown crop. However, late sown crop resulted significantly higher nitrogen content in seed and stover and protein content in seed over normal sown. Among 3-varieties, RCr-480 produced significantly higher yields (15%), total N (15%) and P (by 14%) uptake, per-day productivity(by 14%) and net returns (by 34%), essential oil (by 21%) and protein (17%) yields, PFP-NP and NHI-NP during both the years as compared to RCr-41, which were statistically at par with RCr-435, except oil yield, NHI-NP in second year. The foliar spray of PGRs significantly enhanced the yields (by 10-22%), nutrient content and uptake and quality of coriander over water spray. The highest seed and stover yields, N and P uptake, per-day productivity and net returns, protein and oil yield and PFP-NP with 1 000 ppm triacontanol, over control, 50 ppm NAA and 1 000 ppm thiourea, and remained statistically at par with 1.0 ppm brassinolide, except per-day-net returns and oil yield. Overall, our results suggest that adoption of RCr-480 variety under normal sown condition with 1 000 ppm triacontanol spray can enhance crop productivity, profitability, nutrient uptake and quality of coriander in semi-arid region of India and elsewhere under similar agro-climatic conditions.