Growth, phenology, yield and economic parameters of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) under the influence of sowing dates and leaf cutting management

The study was carried out at the College of Agriculture, JNKVV, Jabalpur to examine the effect of different sowing dates and cutting management on the growth, phenology, and yield of coriander. The key challenge was to decide the ideal time to implement both interventions, since the sowing date and the cutting of leaves is a sensitive matter due to the uncertainty of seasonal weather conditions. Furthermore, the possible stress condition of plants due to the interaction of suboptimal sowing and cutting of leaves made experiment very careful. The experiment followed factorial randomized block design, incorporating two factors: sowing dates and cutting management. A total of 20 treatments were implemented, each replicated three times. Coriander, an annual herb renowned for its culinary uses and pharmaceutical properties, was the subject of analysis. The parameters assessed included growth parameters, phenological parameters, yield parameters, and economic parameters. The tallest plant was observed in the treatment involving sowing on November 9th and single cutting (D9C1). The highest number of branches per plant was recorded in the treatment with sowing on 9 November and three cuttings (D9C3). The highest herbage yield was obtained from the treatment involving sowing on November 19th and 3 cuttings (D19C3). The highest seed yield was observed in the treatment with sowing on November 9th and no cutting (D9C0), while the treatment with sowing on November 9th and 3 cuttings obtained the maximum B: C ratio. The shortest time taken to flower was in the treatment with sowing on October 30th and no cutting (D30C0), whereas 50% flowering occurred earliest in the treatment involving sowing on November 29th and no cutting (D29C0). The study contributes significantly to studying spices because it offers data-oriented framework of defining the optimal sowing period that would give the maximum crop yield with simultaneously leaf cutting in coriander.