Evaluation of ethephon foliar spray on growth, yield, and economic traits of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) under on-farm conditions: A comprehensive assessment

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) is a widely cultivated cucurbitaceous vegetable in India, valued for its nutritional benefits and commercial potential. Despite favorable growing conditions, productivity often remains sub-optimal due to poor flower retention and fruit set. This comprehensive on-farm trial was undertaken to assess the efficacy of foliar spray of Ethephon (Ethrel 39% SL) at the 4-leaf stage followed by three weekly sprays on growth parameters, flowering characteristics, yield components, fruit quality, and economic returns. Two treatments were compared: T₁ (No foliar spray – Farmers’ Practice) and T₂ (Ethephon @ 375 ml/ha). Results demonstrated that T₂ significantly enhanced the number of female flowers (38.8% increase), fruits per vine (28.9% increase), fruit weight (10.5% increase), fruit length (14.0% increase), and fruit breadth (8.0% increase), leading to a 16.74% increase in total yield (40,580 kg/ha ) compared to T₁. Biochemical analysis revealed higher total soluble solids, vitamin C content, and reduced nitrate levels in treated fruits, along with improved shelf life. Economic analysis showed substantially higher net returns (₹ 2,10,000/ha) and benefit-cost ratio (1.90) in the Ethephon-treated plots compared to control (₹ 1,70,396/ha and 1.70, respectively). Qualitative assessments through farmer perception surveys indicated improved marketability and consumer acceptance. This intervention shows promise for improving bottle gourd production and profitability through simple, cost-effective plant growth regulator application that can be readily integrated into existing production systems across diverse agro-climatic zones.