Effect of Methanol on the Growth of field Crops Under Water Stress on Bangkok Plain

Abstract

studies conducted in Arizona, USA, have shown that methanol can enhance the growth of field crops under hot and dry climatic conditions. To investigate the effectiveness of methanol on Bangkok Plain, field experiments with rice, soybean, cotton and tomato were conducted at the Asian Institute of Technology, Pathum Thani province, during the 1994 dry season (January to May). treatments consisted of spraying 10% methanol (v/v) at three rates: 1090, 2180 or 4360 1 ha, depending on the plant species, 3 to 5 sprays were made during the experimental period, using a power sprayer between 1200 and 1400 hours. The results showed no significant effect of methanol on the growth of all four plant species. The lack of response to methanol could be due to the differences in concentration of methanol used or the climatic conditions.