Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Yield and Profitability of Custard Apple: An Economic Prospective
Venu B.N *
College of Agricultural Sciences and Applied Research, Bharatiya Engineering Science and Technology Innovation University, India.
Suresh Babu
College of Agricultural Sciences and Applied Research, Bharatiya Engineering Science and Technology Innovation University, India.
Satheesh
College of Agricultural Sciences and Applied Research, Bharatiya Engineering Science and Technology Innovation University, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In India, custard apple is traditionally known as “sitaphal” especially in Southern states. Commercial cultivation of custard apples is distributed in Andhra Pradesh and parts of Maharashtra. The experiment was framed to determine the influence of growth regulators (effective concentration of GA3 and NAA) on yield parameters and Economics. The results from the study show that foliar application of growth regulators was more effective on growth and yield parameters. The treatment with a combination of GA3 50 + NAA 20 ppm and 25 ppm of GA3 + 10 ppm of NAA, before flowering and a second spray after one month gives higher yields. The results revealed that, the highest B: C ratio 7.98 was found in Treatment T8 followed by T7 (7.11). Foliar application of GA3 50+NAA 20 ppm before flowering and after one month of flowering positively influenced yield, profit and returns from the investment.
Keywords: Crop management, custard apple, GA3, NAA, fruit quality, profitability