Vol. 9, Special Issue 12, Part S (2025)

The present study entitled “Response of plant growth regulator on green pod yield of vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.)” was conducted during Rabi season 2023-24 in the research and instructional farm at Bharregaon under Pt. Kishori Lal Shukla College of Horticulture and Research Station, Rajnandgaon (C.G.). A field study was undertaken in a randomized block design with three replications and thirteen treatments, including a control, to assess the influence of different plant growth regulators on the growth, productivity, and profitability of cowpea. The treatments comprised foliar sprays of Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) at 20, 30 and 40 ppm, Etherel at 150, 250 and 350 ppm, Kinetin at 20, 30 and 40 ppm, and Cycocel at 250, 300 and 350 ppm, applied at 15, 45 and 60 days after sowing. The objective of the investigation was to identify the most effective regulator for enhancing vegetative development, green pod yield, and economic returns in cowpea.

The findings showed marked variations among the treatments. Kinetin @ 40 ppm resulted in the tallest plants (71.03 cm), whereas NAA @ 40 ppm proved most efficient in improving yield traits. This treatment recorded the highest number of branches per plant (7.71), earliest flowering (34 days), maximum pods per plant (23.70), greater pod length (27.28 cm), thicker pod diameter (0.70 cm), heavier pod weight (110.17 g), maximum green pod yield per plot (4892.28 gm), and highest yield per hectare (138.90 q). Moreover, the dry matter content of pods (14.00%) was also superior in this treatment. Importantly, NAA @ 40 ppm achieved the maximum benefit cost ratio (2.21), reflecting its clear economic advantage.