Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield of tulsi (<em>Ocimum sanctum </em>L.) in northern dry zone of Karnataka

Abstract

The field experiment entitled “Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield of Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum L.) in Northern Dry Zone of Karnataka” was conducted during Kharif season of 2018-19. The experiment was laid out in RCBD with 10 treatments in 3 replications. The integrated nutrient management treatments selected for study comprised of T1:Control – RDF (125:75:60, N: P2O5: K2O kg ha-1 + FYM 10 t ha-1), T2:RD of NPK (125:75:60 N: P2O5: K2O kg ha-1) + Vermicompost 5 t ha-1, T3:75 % RDN + RD P2O5 and K2O+ FYM 10 t ha-1 + Azospirillum 10 kg ha-1, T4:75 % RDN + RD P2O5 and K2O+ Vermicompost 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum 10 kg ha-1, T5:T3+ Azotobacter 10 kg ha-1, T6:T4+ Azotobacter 10 kg ha-1, T7:50 % RDN + RD P2O5 and K2O+ FYM 10 t ha-1 + Azospirillum 10 kg ha-1, T8:50 % RDN + RD P2O5 and K2O+ Vermicompost 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum 10 kg ha-1, T9: T7+ Azotobacter 10 kg ha-1 and T10: T8+ Azotobacter 10 kg ha-1. The results from the study revealed that application of 75 % RDN + RD P2O5 and K2O+ Vermicompost 5 t ha-1 + Azospirillum 10 kg ha-1+ Azotobacter 10 kg ha-1 (T6) recorded significantly higher plant height (91.83 cm), number of branches per plant (46.77), leaf area per plant (4700.20 cm2), leaf area index per plant (2.61),CGR (10.65 g m-2 day-1), AGR (1.92 g day-1), fresh herbage yield (125.83 g plant-1) and dry herbage yield (74.35 g plant-1) were recorded in Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum L.) compared to other treatments.