Abstract

                                A field experiment was conducted at the Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, to study the influence of sett treatment on biochemical parameters, weed parameters, physiological parameters and nutrient uptake of bajra Napier hybrid grass. The results of the experiment indicated that on biochemical parameters, sett treatment with water (12 hours soaking fb 24 hours incubation) (S1) recorded higher reducing sugars (28.89 mg/g), total sugar (34.83 mg/g) and starch content (45.83 mg/g). Whereas the lower non reducing sugar content (5.94 mg/g) and total phenolics content (1.65 mg/g) were also observed with sett treatment with water (12 hours soaking fb 24 hours incubation) (S1). Similarly, on weed parameters, significantly lower weed density (9.90 No./m2) and weed dry weight (12.92 g/m2) was recorded with sett treatment with water (12 hours soaking fb 24 hours incubation) (S1). On physiological parameters, significantly higher leaf area index (28.98), relative water content (87.85 %) was registered with water (12 hours soaking fb24 hours incubation) (S1). Among sett treatments, water (12 hours soaking fb24 hours incubation) (S1) had registered higher nitrogen (192.8 kg ha-1), phosphorus (33.0 kg ha-1) and potassium (112.9 kg ha-1) uptake.

Key words : Sett treatments; Biochemical; Weed;Physiological parameters; Nutrient uptake; Bajra napier hybrid grass