Effect of Humic Substances on Germination and Growth of FCV Tobacco Seedlings in Karnataka Light Soil

Author: T.M. Soumya, S.K. Shashikala, C. Prashantha and K.R. Siddagangamma

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Abstract

A nursery experiment was carried out during kharif seasons of 2018 and 2020 at Zonal Agricultural and Horticultural Research Station, Navile, Shivamogga to study the impact of humic substances on growth of FCV tobacco seedlings. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with five treatments and four replications. The treatments consist of different methods and rates of humic substance application viz., T1: Soil application of humic substances @ 1.25 kg ha-1, T2: Soil application of humic substances @ 1.25 kg ha-1 + Foliar spray @ 0.05 % at 30 DAS, T3: Soil application of humic substances @ 1.25 kg ha-1 + Foliar spray @ 0.05 % at 30 and 45 DAS, T4: Soil application of humic substances @ 1.25 kg ha-1 + Foliar spray @ 0.05 % 10 days after reset to protray and T5: Package of practices (Normal). The pooled data showed that the soil application of humic substances @ 1.25 kg ha-1 along with foliar spray @ 0.05 % at 30 and 45 days after sowing recorded significantly higher plant height (9.04 cm), number of leaves per seedling (4.73) and dry weight of seedlings (36.24 g per 10 seedlings) over package of practices (7.01 cm, 3.95 and 26.63 g, respectively). The study implies the vast scope for promoting the use of humic substances for the production of better seedlings with good seedling vigour in FCV tobacco.

Keywords

Humic substance, FCV tobacco, Foliar application, Soil application, Seedling vigour

Conclusion

The two-year study concluded that the application of humic substance in FCV tobacco as soil (at 1.25 kg ha-1) and foliar supplementation (at 0.05%) at 30 DAS and 45 DAS helps to increase plant height (cm), number of leaves per plant, dry weight of FCV tobacco seedlings and reduce damping off disease incidence in FCV tobacco nursery. The application of these humic substances also accelerated seed germination by breaking seed dormancy. As a result, soil application of humic substance at seed sowing, followed by foliar application at 30 and 40 DAS in FCV tobacco nursery, can be promoted as an environmentally friendly good agronomic practice to achieve quality seedling production for improved field establishment and crop productivity in Karnataka light soil.

References

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How to cite this article

T.M. Soumya, S.K. Shashikala, C. Prashantha and K.R. Siddagangamma (2023). Effect of Humic Substances on Germination and Growth of FCV Tobacco Seedlings in Karnataka Light Soil. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(10): 1174-1177.