Author(s): M. Kaur Saini, S. Kaur, A. Kandoria and M. Singh

Abstract: A field experiment was conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Regional Research Station, Gurdaspur during two year crop cycles of 2013-15 and 2014-16 to find out the effect of date of planting, nitrogen application and planting geometries on the fresh herbage yield and essential oil yield of lemon grass under sub-mountaineous region of Punjab. The experiment was laid out in split-split plot design having three replications with three planting dates of lemon grass viz. March 20, April 5and April 20 in main plots, three nitrogen levels (50, 100 and150 kg ha^-1) in sub-plots and three planting geometries viz 60×45 cm, 60×30 cm and 45×45 cm in sub-sub plots. The highest herbage yield and essential oil yield were recorded in March 20 which was statistically at par with April 5 and these treatments obtained higher herbage yield and essential oil yield than April 20 at each harvest during both the years of crop cycles. Also, higher fresh herbage yield and essential oil yield were recorded in crop raised with 150 kg N ha^-1 which was statistically at par with 100 kg N ha^-1 during each harvest of lemon grass. Among planting geometries, the highest fresh herbage yield and essential oil yield was observed in planting geometries 60×30cm, which was statistically at par with 45×45 cm and proved significantly superior to 60×45cm. Further, date of planting, nitrogen application and planting geometries did not cause significant variation in the oil concentration.

Download Full Article: Click Here