The Effect of Two Concentrations and Three Applications of Nitrobenzene on Growth and Yield of Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria L.)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in the Horticultural Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh with aim to assess the influence of two concentrations and three applications of nitrobenzene in relation to control (C0) without nitrobenzene on the growth and yield of bottle gourd. Two concentrations of nitrobenzene applied were: @ 2 ml/L referred as C1 and 3 ml/L referred as C2 in relation to a control (C0) with water instead of nitrobenzene. Further, the above treatments were applied number of times, e.g. One spray (N1), Two spray (N2) and Three spray (N3). In case of different number of concentrations of nitrobenzene the maximum number of male flower (51.06), the maximum number of female flower (40.18), the highest number of fruit harvested per plant (10.95), the highest yield (55.69 t/ha) was found from C1 treatment, whereas the lowest from C0 treatment. For the number of sprays the highest number of flowers (male 49.02 and female 38.05), the maximum number of fruit per plant (10.32), the highest yield (52.94 t/ha) was recorded from N3 treatment, while the minimum from N1 treatment. Due to combined effect, the maximum number of flower (male 57.78 and female 47.12), the maximum number of fruit harvested per plant (12.55), the highest yield (63.38 t/ha) with net income (Tk. 587384.7) and BCR (2.23) was observed from C1N3 treatment combination, while the lowest from C0N1 treatment combination. So, the economic analysis revealed that the C1N3 treatment combination appeared to be the best for achieving the maximum growth, yield and economic benefit of bottle gourd.