Determining the Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Growth, Yield and Quality of Capsicum (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out at Agricultural Research Farm, School of Agriculture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur (Rajasthan) to study the Effect of plant growth regulators on growth, yield and quality of Capsicum [Capsicum annuum L.] cv. during kharif season of the year 2024-25. The experiment was laid down in RBD which consisted 10 treatment combinations viz; T0- Control (Water Spray),   T1- NAA (25 PPM), T2- NAA (50 PPM), T3- NAA (75 PPM), T4- GA3 (5 PPM), T5- GA3 (15 PPM), T6- GA3 (30 PPM), T7- CCC (200 PPM), T8- CCC (400 PPM), T9- CCC (600 PPM) and treatments were replicated three times. The results revealed that plant growth regulators significantly influenced growth, yield, and quality parameters of capsicum. The maximum plant height at 30, 60, and 90 DAT (36.75, 51.93, and 71.25 cm, respectively) and maximum number of branches per plant (13.33 and 17.37 at 60 and 90 DAT) were recorded under GA3 at 30 ppm (T6). The minimum days to first flowering (38.62 days) and maximum number of fruits per plant (19.20), fruit length (11.92 cm), fruit diameter (7.95 cm), fruit weight (117.62 g), and yield per hectare (167.65 t/ha) were observed with NAA at 75 ppm (T3). Quality parameters such as ascorbic acid content (0.94 mg/100 g) and pericarp thickness (8.01 mm) were also highest in T3. Economically, NAA at 75 ppm recorded the highest net return (₹6,31,860.7/ha) and benefit–cost ratio (3.06), followed by NAA at 50 ppm. Therefore, it can be concluded that foliar application of NAA at 75 ppm proved to be the most effective treatment for achieving maximum growth, yield, quality, and profitability in capsicum cultivation under Jaipur agro-climatic conditions.