Effect of sowing time and crop geometry on growth and seed yield of dill (Anethum sowa L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out with an objective to find out the optimum sowing time and crop geometry in dill for realising higher yield and benefit. Fifteen treatment combinations comprising of five dates of sowingviz., Ist October, 15thOctober, 30th October, 15th November and 30th November in main plots and three crop geometryviz., 40 cm x10 cm, 50 cm x 10 cm and 60 cm x 10 cm spacing in sub plots were taken in split plot design with three replications. The results revealed that sowing of dill on 15th October exhibited significantly higher plant height and number of branches per plant at all the growth stages with maximum number of umbels per plant (60.15), umbellates /umbel (44.10) and seeds /umbellate (57.18). The maximum seed weight (4.89 gm), seed yield (1631.75 kg /ha), net returns (Rs. 94222/ha) with highest benefit: cost ratio (5.36) was recorded in the same treatment. Significantly higher plant height at all the growth stages, yield attributes, seed yield (908.57 kg /ha), net returns (Rs. 43600 /ha) and BCR (2.83) were obtained with sowing of dill at 40 cm x 10 cm spacing over wider spacing. Therefore, sowing of dill on 15th October at 40 cm X 10 cm spacing was found most suitable for realising higher growth, seed yield, net returns and BCR. Key words :Dill, sowing time, crop geometry, growth, seed yield.