EFFECT OF NITROBENZENE ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF BOTTLE GOURD (Lagenaria siceraria L.)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in the Horticultural Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The experiment consisted of two factors. Factor A: Different concentrations of nitrobenzene as C II 0 = Control (Water only), C = Nitrobenzene @ 2 ml/L, C 2 = Nitrobenzene @ 3 ml/L and Factor B: N = One spray, N 2 = Two spray, N = Three spray in the growing period. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. In case of different concentrations of nitrobenzene the maximum number of flower (male 51.06 and female 40.18), the highest number of fruit harvested per plant (10.95) and the highest yield (55.69 t/ha) were found from C 3 1 1 treatment, whereas the lowest from C

treatment. For number of spray the highest number of flower (male 49.02 and female 38.05), the maximum number of fruit per plant (10.32) and the highest yield (52.94 t/ha) were recorded from N 3 treatment, while the minimum were from N treatment. Due to combined effect, the maximum number of flower (male 57.78 and female 47.12), the maximum number of fruit harvested per plant (12.55), the highest yield (63.38 t/ha) with net income (Tk. 587384.7) and BCR (2.23) were observed from C 1 N 3 treatment combination, while the lowest were from C So, economic analysis revealed that the C 1 N 3 0 N 1 1 treatment combination. treatment combination appeared to be the best for achieving the higher growth, yield and economic benefit of bottle gourd.