Effect of Different Nitrogen Levels and Plant Growth Regulators on Stomatal Resistance, Leaf Temperature and Transpiration Rate and Yield of Banana cv Ney Poovan

Abstract

The present Study was carried out to understand the effects of certain plant growth regulators under different nitrogen levels on different gas exchanging parameters viz., stomatal resistance, leaf temperature, transpiration rate and yield of banana cv. neypoovan.  Different levels of nitrogen viz.,150 g Nplant-1 (45g + 75g +30g N plant-1 at 3,5 and 7 MAP, respectively), M1 + Urea 2% foliar spray, 200 g N plant-1 (60g + 100g + 40g N plant-1 at 3,5 and 7 MAP respectively), M3 + Urea 2% foliar spray and foliar spray of salicylic acid 100 ppm, mepiquat chloride 500 ppm, chlormequat chloride 1000 ppm, nitrobenzene 50 ppm, benzyl adenine 20 ppm and 25 ppm of 2, 4-D at 3rd , 5th and 7th month after planting were given and compared with untreated control.Salicylic acid treated leaves showed high stomatal resistance with low transpiration. The yield components were favourably influenced by higher level of N application. Soil application of 200 g N plant-1 and giving two per cent urea spray on 3rd, 5th,and 7th month after planting distinctly enhanced all the yield components. Salicylic acid spray at 100 ppm improved the number of hands, fingers and finger size. Benzyl adenine at 20 ppm spray also was found beneficial in increasing yield components. More number of fingers per bunch were observed in benzyl adenine treatment. With maximum fruit weight, salicylic acid spray surpassed benzyl adenine by recording maximum bunch weight of 12.58 kg (13.9 % increase over control), while benzyl adenine recorded 12.52 kg (13.4 % increase).