Response of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) to Different Bio-stimulants for Enhanced Growth and Productivity

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the response of garlic (Allium sativum L.) to different bio-stimulants for enhancing growth, yield and productivity under the agro-climatic conditions of Jaipur, Rajasthan, at the experimental field of Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur. The experiment comprised ten treatments, viz., control, salicylic acid at 50, 100 and 150 ppm, Ascophyllum nodosum at 3 ml/L, Kappaphycus alvarezii at 3 ml/L, Sargassum spp. at 3 ml/L and vermiwash at 10, 20 and 30 ml/L. The application of bio-stimulants significantly improved growth and yield attributes of garlic over the untreated control. Among the treatments, Sargassum spp. at 3 ml/L (T6) recorded the highest plant height (64.83 cm), number of leaves per plant (9.96), neck diameter (1.37 cm), number of cloves per bulb (19.01), clove weight (1.65 g), average bulb weight (31.37 g) and bulb yield (20.91 t/ha). The control treatment recorded the lowest values for most of the parameters. The superior performance of Sargassum spp. was attributed to its bioactive compounds and growth-promoting constituents, which enhanced physiological activity, nutrient utilisation and assimilate accumulation, ultimately improving bulb development and productivity. The study indicated that foliar application of Sargassum spp. at 3 ml/L was the most effective bio-stimulant treatment for improving growth, yield attributes and bulb yield of garlic under the prevailing conditions.