Standardization of size of cutting and IBA concentrations on the multiplication of underutilized leafy vegetables of Assam

An experiment unfolded at the Experimental Farm in the Department of Horticulture, AAU, Jorhat during 2021-22 to analyse the effect of different concentrations of IBA viz., H1: distilled water, H2: 25 ppm, H3: 50 ppm and H4: 75 ppm on three different cutting sizes (N1: 1 node, N2: 3 nodes, N3: 5 nodes) across three underutilized leafy vegetables (Brahmi, Matikanduri, Madhusoleng). In nursery, the experiment (I) was put out in Factorial Randomised Block Design (FRBD) from which the best and the poorest treatment of each crop were planted in the main field for further studies on their growth. In the main field, the experiment (II) was laid out in Randomized Block Design with four replications. The interaction between cutting size and IBA concentration spotlighted N3H4 as the pinnacle treatment in Brahmi displaying superior rooting percentage, longest root length, root diameter, highest root fresh and dry weights, highest root number, and hastening new leaf appearance. In Matikanduri, N3H4 excelled in rooting percentage, root length, root diameter, fresh weight, and root number, whereas N3H3 caused the maximum root dry weight and quickest new leaf emergence. Madhusoleng exhibited optimal results with N3H4, showcasing the highest rooting percentage, longest root length, root diameter, root fresh and dry weights, root number, and minimum time to new leaf appearance. In the main field, Brahmi-survival percentage (99.50%), plant height (21 cm), plant spread (29.25 cm), number of branches (3.75), leaf number (21.25), Matikanduri- survival percentage (98.75%), plant height (40.45 cm), plant spread (68.95 cm), number of branches (38.25), leaf number (330.50), Madhusoleng- survival percentage (98.50%), plant height (82.00 cm), plant spread (102.25 cm), number of branches (31.00), leaf number (378.75) were found to be best in the same treatment combination of N3H4 with maximum BC ratio of 3.31, 4.46, and 5.80, respectively.