Nipping and Foliar Spray for Enhanced Seed Yield in Horsegram var. Paiyur 2

Horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) is an underutilized food legume crop in the peninsular region and it belongs to the family Leguminaceae. The lower production and productivity of horsegram is due to its cultivation in rainfed areas of marginal and sub-marginal lands with poor management practices. Nutrients given as foliar spray is a unique technique to enhance plant growth by extending the availability of nutrients at all growth stages. Exogenous application of PGR enhance the crop production by altering plant stand and quality. Hence, experiments were conducted by combining foliar nutrition with nipping to improve the seed yield and quality. Nipping in the company of foliar spray of brassinolide @1 ppm registered increased plant height, branches per plant, number of pods plant-1 and seed yield plant-1 over control. The yield increases due to nipping on 40th DAS was 7% over control whereas foliar spray of brassinolide @ 1.0 ppm during flowering phase enhanced the yield upto 10% when compared to control. The plants subjected to nipping at 40 DAS combined with foliar spray of brassinolide @1.0 PPM increased the seed yield up to 11% (779 kg/ha) over control (698kg/ha).