Impact of Foliar Spray of PGR Nutrient Consortium on Growth, Photosynthesis and Yield of Horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum Lam) under Rainfed Condition

Background: Horsegram is considered as poor man's crop and it has high nutritive value for human being. Apart from its photo and thermo sensitive in nature, formation of tendrils with excessive vegetative growth is major constraints and reason for poor yield. The tendrils act as sink and utilize photo-assimilates for its continuous growth. Hence, a strategy is required for reduction of vegetative growth and tendril formation for yield improvement. The current study is aimed to enhancement of yield in horsegram through physiological approach. Methods: An experiment was conducted to study the impact of plant growth regulators and nutrients viz., brassinolide (1 ppm), CCC (250 ppm), nutrient consortium (K2SO4 (0.5%) + MAP (0.5%) + FeSO4 (0.5%) + boric acid (0.3%) and TNAU Horsegram Wonder (1%) on growth, physiological traits and yield of horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) variety Paiyur 2 under rainfed condition during 20182020. Plant growth regulators and nutrient consortium were used as foliar spray at flowering stage (50 days after sowing) under field condition. Result: TNAU Horsegram Wonder showed supremacy to enhance photosynthetic rate, SPAD value, soluble protein and yield compared to other treatments. Early flowering and reduced number of tendrils were observed in CCC nutrient consortium and TNAU Horsegram Wonder treatments. Foliar spray of 1% TNAU Horsegram Wonder recorded highest SPAD value of 22.8 which is on par with BL nutrient consortium. Highest photosynthetic rate of 16.94 mu mol m-2 s-1 and lowest number of tendrils (2.6) were registered by 1% TNAU Horsegram Wonder. Foliar application of TNAU Horsegram Wonder at flowering stage registered highest grain yield of 1090 kg ha-1 and increased yield of 23% over control with BC ratio of 2.24.