Effect of different levels and time of application of paclobutrazol on morphology, yield and yield attributing characters and economics of groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Groundnut is one of the most important oilseed crops of Odisha and grown in both in kharif and rabi-summer seasons. Because of excessive vegetative growth in kharif season, the yield potential is lower than rabi-summer resulting in low yield. Keeping this in view, an experiment was set up to investigate the effect of different concentration and time of paclobutrazol application on growth and yield of groundnut.

A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2016 to 2018 at AICRP on Groundnut Research Farm, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with different concentration of paclobutrazol in main plot and time of application in sub plot and replicated thrice. Recommended dose of 20: 40: 40 kg of N, P₂O₅ and K₂O entirely applied as basal. Yield and yield attributing characters were taken at the time of harvest.

Application of paclobutrazol at different concentration significantly reduced groundnut plant height and significant reduction was observed with application at 30 DAE. Among various yield attributing characters; pod/plant and pod yield increased significantly (24.6% and 27.4%, respectively) with application of paclobutrazol @ 100 ppm with higher benefit cost ratio of 1.97 and upto (8.4% and 17.5%) with application at 30 DAE.