Indian Journal of Horticulture

An experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Field Laboratory of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur during November 2005 to July 2006 to evaluate the effect of gibberellic acid (GA₃), kinetin and seed rate on yield and profitability of Erygium foertidum. Eight combinations of hormones comprising GA₃at 100, 500, 1000 ppm; kinetin at 10, 50, 100 ppm; GA₃ 500 ppm plus kinetin 50 ppm and control (distilled water) with three seed rates, viz., 20, 30 and 40 kg/ha were used. Application of GA₃ and kinetin individually and in combination significantly increased seed germination as well as yield of Eryngium. Maximum number of plants (1592/m²) was obtained from the mixed application of GA₃ (500 ppm) and kinetin (50 ppm) with 40 kg seed/ha, while maximum fresh weight (6.87 kg/m²), fresh yield (54.94 t/ha), gross return (Tk. 13,73,300/ha) and net return (Tk. 10,86,500/ha) was obtained from the same hormonal treatment with 30 kg seed/ha. The maximum benefit-cost ratio (5.08), benefit over control (Tk. 6,36,200/ha), percentage benefit over control (56.7) were obtained from mixed hormone (GA₃500 ppm + kinetin 50 ppm) application along with 20 kg seed/ha.