Journal of Scientific Research and Reports

The present investigation was conducted to study the effects of different methods of application of GA₃ and zinc on growth, yield and quality of pea (Pisum sativum L).  The experiment was laid out in a randomised block design (FRBD), comprising nine treatments with 3 replications. In the present investigation, superior growth parameters viz. maximum plant height at both stages, recording 49.70 cm at 30 days after sowing and 62.70 cm at 60 DAS, alongside the maximum number of branches per plant at both 30 DAS (6.91) and 60 DAS (9.86) and maximum chlorophyll content in leaves (30.22 mg/g) were recorded under treatment T₈ (foliar spray of GA₃ @ 125 ppm + foliar spray of ZnSO₄ @ 150 ppm). Conversely, superior yield traits related to early flowering viz. the minimum number of days to the appearance of the first inflorescence (66.55 days) and the minimum number of days to 50 per cent flowering (75.84 days) were observed under treatment T₇ (seed soaking with GA₃ @ 300 ppm + soil application of ZnSO₄ @ 25 kg/ha) while maximum number of pods per plant (8.26), maximum average pod weight (7.49 g), maximum pod length (10.257 cm), maximum pod yield per plant (61.84 g), maximum number of seeds per pod (8.504) and maximum total yield (11.68 t/ha) were all recorded under treatment T₈. Superior quality parameters viz. the maximum total soluble solids value of 15.4 °Brix, the maximum reducing sugar content (3.94%), the maximum non-reducing sugar content (6.60 %) and the maximum total sugar content (10.54 %) were also consistently achieved under treatment T₈. Based on the present investigation, it may be concluded that the treatment T₈, consisting of a foliar spray of GA₃ @ 125 ppm + foliar spray of ZnSO₄ @ 150 ppm, recorded the best results in terms of growth, quality, yield and economic returns; therefore, this treatment may be recommended for cultivation of pea (Pisum sativum L.) in this region.