Efficiency of Plant Growth Regulators

Discuss about the Plant Growth Regulator for Yield of Crop.

Plant Growth regulators which are also known as PGR ( s ) are used in Tasmania widely (Tina et al., 2015). This is mainly used in order to manage the lodging of the winter wheat that is grown with the help of fertilisers which contain high amount of nitrogen. There are different types of plant growth regulators that can be used in managing the lodging procedure of wheat, but among different types of plant growth regulators, only four plant growth regulators are used at present and these four plant growth regulators are known as Onium – types ( Chlormequat, CCC ), second and third generation PGRs , Ethephon ( ETH ) , the triazoles ( TEB, tebuconazole ) and TE i.e. trinexapac – ethyl ) (Tina et al., 2015). Only CCC and few others are allowed and registered to use in the cereals (Regional.org.au, 2016).

The main reason behind doing this study is to know the efficiency of the plant growth regulators ( PGR ) and especially of CCC. It is needed to be understood that whether this PGR i.e. CCC can control the growth of plants or not. If they can control the growth of the plants, then the method must also be known. Here it is also to be known whether the plant growth regulators ( CCC ) can increase the yield of crop or not. A small study from a literature is given below:

From the research (Tina et al., 2015) it has been found that proper application of the plant growth regulators are capable of increasing the rate of yield and it does not depend on whether lodging has taken place or not. According to the research (Tina et al., 2015), CCC is capable of managing the height of the crop and it can also increase the yield of winter wheat significantly. CCC is known as Chlormequat. It is also known as Cycocel ( CCC – 720 ). From the same research it has also been found that CCC has the capability to reduce the height of the plant and at the same time it also has the capability to increase the yield rate of crop. These are shown in the following charts:

Figure 1: Effect of PGR treatments on crop height in the 2012 trial. Bars represent ± SE.

Figure 2: Effect of PGR treatments on crop yield in the 2012 trial. Bars represent ± SE

The lodging of the winter wheat can result into the increase of the production cost as the lodging can affect the rate of yield of crop in direct manner. It also reduces the cost of harvest capability of the crop. As told earlier, different plant growth regulators are used in order to overcome the problems. These are not only capable of reducing the height of the plants and increasing the rate of yield but these plant growth regulators are also capable of increasing the diameter of the stem and can provide strength to those stems. From the research it has been found that if the place  is a high rain fall zone ( HRZ ) and if different fertilizers and water are used as inputs while harvesting, in those place plant growth regulators are to be used as these plant growth regulators are capable reducing the probability of lodging. Though it can be said that the lodging problem can be solved and the height of plants can be managed with the help of plant growth regulators, but it has been seen that plant growth regulators cannot increase the rate of yield in a consistent manner, they are capable of increasing the rate of yield of crop but the rate is not consistent. From the research it has been found CCC is capable of increasing the rate of yield of crop significantly but this increase is not consistent. On the other hand, it also been found from the research that different plant growth regulators have different effects on different crop. Some plant growth regulators can increase the rate of yield of crops whereas some cannot ( or can do in a little amount ). The amount of plant growth regulators that must be applied is another factor. According to the research, if proper amount of plant growth regulators are not used then it cannot be ensured that the rate of yield of the crop will be increased. In some cases it has been seen that if high amount plant growth regulators are used, it can result into the reduction of the rate of yield of the crop.

Limitations and Benefits of Plant Growth Regulators

The primary aim of this research work is to know whether the plant growth regulators are capable of increasing the yield of crop or not. After studying the background of the study the researcher has decided several objectives that are to be met in order to make the research work fruitful and successful. The objectives of this research work are given below:

To study about plant growth regulator

To study about CCC

To understand the methods those are to be used in order to use CCC for increasing the rate of yield of crop

To know the limitations and benefits of plant growth regulator ( CCC )

After studying the background of the study, the researcher comes across several questions in his or her mind and these questions are known as research questions. The research questions of this research work are written below:

Can plant growth regulators increase the yield of crop?

Is CCC is an effective and efficient plant growth regulator?

What are the advantages of using CCC?

What are the limitations of CCC?

What is the proper method of applying CCC so that the yield of crop can be optimised?

In order to make the research work successful, proper methodology must be used while conducting the research work. Methodology is known as one of the most important tool that can be used in order to achieve the objectives of the research work. The researcher identifies the most the suitable research methodology so that the research work can be fruitful and effective. It also helps the researcher to provide a systematic and rigid structure to the research work. While identifying the research methodology the purpose of the research work must be kept in mind in order to ensure that proper path is being maintained.

The research work will be a experimental research work. Crop will be selected and plant growth regulators will be applied on them in order to observe the result of the application of the plant growth regulators. Here mainly two types of plant growth regulators will be used and these two are known as CCC and TE.

The trails are performed in the commercial paddocks of wheat in Tasmania. The co – ordination of the place is ( 41 ° 31 ’ S , 146 ° 54 ’ E ). The trails will be done on the paddocks ( commercial paddocks ). The pests and the weeds are managed according to the methods of the commercial practice. Each of the trails is done with the help of four replicates. The selection is to be done in a random manner. The plots will be designed in vertical direction. After this, the borders will be sprayed out using Glyphosate. The size of the plot will be 8 meter or 12 meter along the direction of length and 1.85 meter along the direction of width. It depends on the year of the experiment. In this experiment all the plant growth regulator ( PGR ) treatment will be performed according to the growth stage of Zadoks at the stem elongation ( G S 30 ) and also at the mid tillering ( G S 24 ). In the treatment CCC 30, CCC 24, TE 24, TE x2 24, TE 30, CCC + TE 24, CCC + TE 24 & 30, CCC + TE 30 are used. The CCC ( s ) are to be at G S 24 and G S 30 ( 730 g a. i. Ha ^ ( – 1  ) ). A combination of TE and CCC will be used at G S 24 and G S 30. It will be applied at 50 g. a. i. ha ^ ( – 1 ) ). On the other hand, TE will be applied at 100 and 50 g. a. i. ha ^ ( – 1 ). All of these will be used at G S 24 and G S  30 ). There will be some extra controls that will be added to GA + N and also to the induce lodging. Here GA + N denotes the combination of Gibberelic Acid and nitrogen and this combination will be applied at G S 24 at 15 kg a. i. ha ^ ( – 1 ). An extra amount of nitrogen will also be added lately. The amount will be 15 Kg a .i. ha ^ ( – 1 ) and it will also be applied to G S 45. The plot will be harvested carefully for measuring the rate of yield correctly. All the plants that are to be taken for the experiment must be physiologically matured. The sampling will be started from 0.6 square meters.

Research Questions and Objectives

Table 1

Tasks	Duration ( in days )
Studying the background of the topic of the research work	10
setting the objectives	4
setting the research questions:	4
literature review:	10
Selection of the land	3
Collection of materials	5
Application	10
observation	5
Results and discussion	5
conclusion and recommendation	3

Table 2

Tasks

1 / 10 / 2016 – 10 / 10 / 2016

07 / 10 / 2016 – 11 / 10 / 2016

08 / 10 / 2016 – 12 / 10 / 2016

13 / 10 / 2016 – 22 / 10 / 2016

23 / 10 / 2016 – 25 / 10 / 2016

26 / 10 / 2016 – 30 / 10 / 2016

31 / 10 /  2016 – 9 / 11 / 2016

10 / 11 / 2016 – 14 / 11 / 2016

12 / 11 / 2016 – 16 / 11 / 2016

17 / 11 / 2016 – 19 / 11 / 2016

Studying the background of the topic of the research work

setting the objectives

setting the research questions:

literature review:

Selection of the land

Collection of materials

application

observation

Results and discussion

conclusion and recommendation

Table 3

expenses	numbers	compensations		Total expense
staff	4	700	700 * 4	2800
worker	10	400	10 * 400	4000
materials			3000	3000
consumables				6000
others				2500
Total	18300

For executing this research work, 4 staff is taken and two workers will be employed. Each of the staff will be paid 700 whereas the workers will be paid 400 each. The total costs of the consumables are expected to be 6000. The costs of the materials are 3000. The other costs are expected to be 2500. The total costs are predicted to be 18300.

This is a new organisation. It has only three years of experience in conducting the research works like this research work. There are several researchers and staff. In this organisation there are 5 workers. In this research work a team will be set. The team will contain one main researcher, four staff and 10 workers.

Grant proposal            

This study has been conducted in order to acquire understanding in the context of the impact of plant growth regulators and how it has influenced the CCC process. Here a grant proposal has been introduced in order to accumulate fund for the research. The main aim of this study is to evaluate the functions of PGR and find out the fact that whether CCC is effective in the context of growing plants or not. The project plan can be asserted in terms of researching on the fact that whether the plant growth regulators deliver effectiveness in the context of plant growth. Thus, the organization intends to apply for funding in relation to support the research work and make it more valid through incorporating effective means of research methods.

Apart from this, the organization that intends to conduct the research work is a new one and has been doing research works for several years. Thus, the organization or the research team has applied for the funding amount to continue the research work. Therefore, a fund amount of 18300 has been confirmed in relation to the research work. The funding could be gained depending on the facts like the topic of the research work has been considered to be less popular and had not been conducted frequently in the past. Another reason for funding is that this research would be able to provide validated and apt information in relation to the study. Thus, the funding amount has been divided structurally, so that the fund amount could be justified in this regard. The researcher would employ staff for collecting data from the practical sources along with other consumable costs that exhibits the amount in total is 18,300. Thus, it could be expected that the fund for the research work can be successfully accumulated in order to continue the research work for better representation of the facts.

References

Kothari, C. (2004). Research methodology. New Delhi: New Age International (P) Ltd.

Kumar, R. (2005). Research methodology. London: SAGE.

Regional.org.au. (2016). The Regional Institute – Effects of plant growth regulators that reduce stem height on yield of wheat in southern Australia. [online] Available at: https://www.regional.org.au/au/asa/2012/crop-development/8207_virgonajm.htm [Accessed 14 Sep. 2016].

Saunders, M. N., Lewis, P. and Thornhill, A. (2009) Research methods for business students, Page 52, 5^th ed. Harlow: Prentice Hall

Scruggs, T. and Mastropieri, M. (2006). Applications of research methodology. Amsterdam: Elsevier JAI

Tina, B., Angela, M., Anna, C. and Peat, L. (2015). Plant growth regulator use in broad acre crops.

Welman, C., Kruger, F., Mitchell, B. and Huysamen, G. (2005). Research methodology. Cape Town: Oxford University Press.