Effect of bio-stimulants and plant growth regulators on the growth and quality of green chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

This research was carried out on “Effect of bio-stimulants and plant growth regulators on the growth, yield and quality of green chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)” at the Instructional Farm, Faculty of Horticulture, UBKV, Pundibari, Coochbehar during 2022-2023. The experiment was conducted in factorial RBD with 27 different treatment combinations, in which factor A was included with 9 different doses of humic acid and seaweed extract as soil application and factor B was included with 3 different PGRs (NAA, GA3 and Triacontanol) with different concentrations as foliar spray. This study was to identify which bio-stimulants and PGRs yielded the best growth results of green chilli. Among the bio-stimulant treatments, A3 [Mobicel – H (80% Humic acid) @ 15 kg/ha] showed the maximum plant height (40.50 cm) and A5 [Biovita Granules (8% Seaweed Extract) at 8 kg/ha] resulted in an increase in the no. of primary branches (8.84) and plant spread (50.35 cm), respectively at 90 DAT. On the other hand, maximum chlorophyll-a content (243.76 mg/100 g) and total chlorophyll (a+b) content (208.90 mg/100 g) of mature leaves were found in the treatment A3 (Mobicel – H (80% Humic acid) @ 15 kg/ha) and maximum chlorophyll-a content (67.76) and ascorbic acid content (100.72 mg/100 g) were found in the treatment A5 (Biovita granules (8% Seaweed extract) @ 8 kg/ha).