Effect of Nano Zinc on Different Hybrids of Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Vegetable Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom University Institute of Agriculture Sciences conducted to study the effect of Nano Zinc on growth and yield of bottle gourd and their residual effect on succeeding crop. It has laid out by randomized complete block design with 3 replications and 8 hybrids. The factors for the experiment were nano zinc 50ppm and traditional zinc along with the control includes NPK (100:60:40 Kg/ha). The results shown that the highest fruit length (27.67cm), average fruit weight (570.73g), fruit diameter (50.66mm), vine length at last harvest (4.00 m), total no. of nodes at last harvest (44.80), TSS (2.40 0Brix), vit-c(1.30mg/100mg), color of fruit (Light green) and yield q/ha (135.52), marketable yield (136.52) q/ha was reported. Aforesaid hybrids have highest gross return (410870.63 INR/ha), net return (297870.63 INR/ha) and B: C ratio (2.81).  zinc levels (50ppm ha1) as soil application found significant influenced the growth, fruit yield, nutrient content, and yield of bottle gourd. It was recorded that 50ppm zinc ha-1 were found best on vine length, fruit girth, number of fruits per plant, seed yield of bottle gourd, zinc content, protein content and growth and yield.