Productivity Enhancement of Crops through the Application of Biostimulants towards Food Security

By : R. Raman

Page No: 254-261

Abstract
Biostimulants are a novel, environmentally-sound innovation which assures increased crop productivity, blooming, plant growth, fruit set and nutrient usage efficiency. In recent years, they have been playing a major role—minimizing the use of chemical fertilizers and enhancing plant growth, resilience to abiotic and water stresses. These compounds are very effective at lower concentrations, encouraging the best possible performance of the essential functions of a plant and enabling high yields and products of outstanding quality. Field probes were conducted to study the role of foliar nutrition by organic biostimulants in enhancing plant growth and yield. These biostimulants are highly recommended by the Department of Agriculture. Research trial 1 was conducted at the experimental farm in the Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University to study the effect of organic foliar nutrition on crop growth and yield of green gram from February to April, 2007. The findings showed that the Panchagavya + vermiwash + faloar spray of NAA (15, 30, 45 DAS) resulted in higher plant height (43.36 cm), LAI (4.26), number of pods/plant (20.12), haulm production (2135 kg ha-1) and grain production (905.36 kg ha-1). Research trial 2 was conducted in a grower’s field in the village of Periya Muliyanur in Erode, Tamil Nadu to study the effect of foliar nutrition of organic biostimulants on the growth and yield of groundnut cv. Co 3 during October 2020-February 2021. The findings reveal that superior growth and yield. Plant height (30.74 cm), LAI (5.33), No. of pods/plant-1(22.67), kernel yield (17.16 q ha-1) and haulm weight (36.20 q ha-1) improved with the application of RDF + Humic acid @ 0.4 % on 30 and 45 DAS.

Author:
R. Raman : Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/PROD.2024.65.03.3