International Journal of Horticulture, 2017, Vol.7, No.21, 172-179
177
respectively).The highest number of secondary branches per plant (6.73 and 12.78) at first harvest and second
harvest respectively were recorded by the treatment L
2
N
4
(30 cm harvest height + 0.3 per cent of humic acid) and
it was followed by the treatment L
1
N
4
(15 cm harvest height + 0.3 per cent of humic acid).The results showed
that, the treatment H
2
N
4
(three months harvest intervals and 0.3 per cent of humic acid) recorded higher number
of secondary branches (6.94 and 13.63 at first harvest and second harvest respectively) as compared to other
treatment. Among the different treatment combinations studied, the treatment L
2
H
2
N
4
(30 cm harvest height +
three months harvest intervals + 0.3 per cent of humic acid) registered the highest number of secondary branches
per plant (7.01 and 13.67 at first and second harvest). It is evident that taller plants have more number of
adventitious buds to produce more branches when compared to low stump height (15 cm harvest height - L
1
).
Higher harvest interval (three months interval) also support higher number of secondary branches per plant due to
sufficient time for more growth and longer periods of photosynthesis. These would have also resulted in
accumulation of more carbohydrates in the stem. Foliar application of humic acid @ 0.3 per cent (N
4
) also
exhibited significant influence on improvement of number of secondary branches per plant which might be due to
the application of humic acid that would have increased the soil fertility due to increase availability of nutrients/
elements as reported by David et al. (1994).
3.3 Effect of harvesting techniques and bio-stimulants on leaflet length and leaflet width
In this study the data pertaining to the effect of harvest height, harvest interval, bio-stimulants and their
combination effects presented in Table 5; Table 6; Table 7 and Table 8, it showed highly significant influence on
leaflet length of curry leaf.
In respect of different harvest heights, the treatment L
2
(30 cm harvest height) recorded the higher leaflet length
(6.49 and 6.52 cm at first harvest and second harvest) and leaflet width (3.49 cm and 3.47 cm at first harvest and
second harvest) respectively compared to the treatment L
1
(15 cm harvest height). Among the different harvest
intervals, the treatment H
2
(three months harvest intervals) recorded the higher leaflet length (6.71 and 6.74 cm at
first harvest and second harvest) and leaf width (3.67 cm and 3.70 cm at first harvest and second harvest).
Application of bio-stimulants also showed highly significant difference on leaflet length of curry leaf. The
highest leaflet length (6.70 and 6.75 cm at first harvest and second harvest) and leaf width (3.65 cm and 3.66 cm
at first harvest and second harvest) was recorded by the treatment N
4
(0.3 per cent of humic acid).
The interaction effect between the harvest heights and harvest intervals showed highly significant influence on
leaflet length. The treatment L
2
H
2
(30 cm harvest height + three months harvest intervals) recorded the highest
leaflet length at first harvest (6.76 cm) and second harvest (6.81 cm) and leaflet width at first harvest (3.69 cm)
andsecond harvest (3.73 cm). The results showed that, the treatment L
2
N
4
(30 cm harvest height + 0.3 per cent of
humic acid) exhibited the highest leaflet length values at first harvest (6.78 cm) and second harvest (6.82 cm) and
leaflet width at first harvest (3.68 cm) andsecond harvest (3.70 cm). The highest leaflet length at first harvest
(7.08 cm) andsecond harvest (7.14 cm)and leaflet width at first harvest (3.89 cm) andsecond harvest (3.93
cm)was recorded by the treatment H
2
N
4
(three months harvest intervals + 0.3 per cent of humic acid) and it was
followed by the treatment H
2
N
3
(three months harvest intervals + 2 per cent of seaweed extract). The combined
effect of harvest heights, harvest intervals and foliar nutrients also showed significant influence on leaflet length.
Among the different combinations experimented, the treatment combination, L
2
H
2
N
4
(30 cm harvest height +
three months harvest intervals + 0.3 per cent of humic acid) registered the highest leaflet length at first harvest
(7.21 cm) andsecond harvest (7.26 cm) and leaflet width at first harvest(3.94 cm) and second harvest (3.98 cm).
This might be due to higher harvest height, more number of secondary branches, and higher stem girth registered
by the same treatment. Increased number of leaflets per leaf due to foliar application of humic acid was also
reported by Abdel- Razzak and El-Adani et al. (1998) in tomato.
3.4 Effect of harvesting techniques and bio-stimulants on leaf yield and estimated leaf yield
Among the two harvest heights, the treatment L
2
(30 cm harvest height) recorded the higher green leaf yield
