Effect of management practice, plant sex density and harvesting stage on the growth yield of pointed gourd (Trichosanthes dioica Roxb)

Abstract

This experiment was carried out at the Regional Agricultural Research Station, Ishuirdi, Pabna during the growing season from 2009-10 to delineate better management practices, the optimum plant sex density and suitable harvesting stage of pointed gourd for higher yield and quality of pointed gourd. The experiment consisted of two management practices viz.: mulch with wheat straw and Bamboo pandal, three plant sex densities (female: male) viz.: 15:1 (T₁), 10:1 (T₂), and 5:1 (T₃) and three harvesting stages at 8, 12 and 16 days after female flower atheists. The highest yield (36.86 t/ha) was obtained in the management practice of bamboo pandal. The highest yield (33.61t/ha) was produced at the 15:1 plant sex density. The highest yield (32.33 t/ha) was recorded in the harvesting at 8 days after female flower anthesis (H₁). The combined effect was reflected as the highest yield (39.99 t/ha) obtained in the bamboo pandal coupled with 15.1 plant sex density and harvesting at 8 days after female flower anthesis (S₂-T₁-H₁).