EFFECT OF SPACING AND PIT SIZE ON YIELD AND ITS ATTRIBUTES IN BITTER-GOURD CV. SOLAN HARA

The 30 days old healthy seedlings of bitter-gourd cv. Solan Hara raised in poly bags were transplanted in mid May at three spacings viz. S1: 100x100 cm, S2: 150x100 cm and S3: 200x100 cm in pits of three sizes viz. P1: 1.0 cubic foot, P2: 1.5 cubic feet and P3: 2.0 cubic feet during two consecutive years 2002 and 2003. These 9 treatment combinations were laid out in a randomized block design with three replications in the plots of size 4.00x3.00 m each year. The pits of specified size were well prepared and incorporated with recommended doses of manures and fertilizers and all agronomic practices were adopted timely as per package of practices for raising a healthy and normal crop. The data on yield (q/ha), fruit weight (g), fruits per plant, vine length (cm) and days to picking was recorded. Significant differences were observed for all the traits studied, except, vine length and days to picking during both the years. The maximum yield of 200.1 q/ha with 37.4 fruits of an average weight 116.2 g per plant was produced by planting the crop at the widest spacing (200x100 cm) in the biggest pits (2.0 cubic feet). However, vine length and days to picking were observed to be least influenced by the spacing and pit size.