Effect of different plant spacing’s on growth and yield of Rheum australe D. Don: an endangered medicinal plant

Abstract

The experiment on Rheum australe an endangered medicinal plant was conducted at Dr. Y.S. Parmar U.H.F, Nauni, Solan Himachal Pradesh. The experiment was conducted under Randomized Block Design (RBD) with five replications and four treatments. Different spacing’s for conducting experiment were (60×60cm), (60×90cm), (90×90cm) and (90×120cm) respectively. The plants raised in polybags at experimental farm Nauni, Solan were transplanted at Forestry Research Sub-Station, Rahla (Manali) at different spacings as per treatments. Observations were recorded on different parameters such as plant height (cm), aerial biomass yield plant-1 (g), underground biomass yield plant-1 (g) and estimated underground biomass yield (q/ha) after one year interval up to three years due to perennial nature of herb. Statistical analysis revealed significant results for all the parameters. Maximum plant height (33.41 cm) was recorded in (60×60cm2), spacing however, maximum above ground biomass (37.28 g plant-1) and below ground biomass (40.22g plant-1) was recorded in (60×90cm2) cm spacing after 36 months. The spacing of 60×60 cm resulted in significant increase in estimated underground biomass yield (9.90qha-1). There was 43.54 %, 31.32 % and 25.21 % increase in underground biomass in S2 (60×90cm2) spacing over planting distance of (90×120 cm2) after 12 months, 24 months and 36 months respectively.