Phenological study and berries yield of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) as influenced by sowing method and organic sources of nutrients

Abstract

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal) is the member of nightshade family i.e. Solanaceae. It is an erect, herbaceous, evergreen, tomentose shrub. An experiment was conducted to find out the effect of different sowing methods and organic sources of nutrient on yield and quality of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal). The experiment was carried out during rabi seasion 2016-17 at college of agriculture, IGKV Raipur. Raipur is situated in 210 16’ N latitude and 810 26’ E longitudes. There were eighteen combinations of three sowing methods in main plot i.e. flat bed, ridge bed and raised bed and six sub plots i.e. control, FYM @ 10t ha-1, FYM @15t ha-1, vermicompost @ 5t ha-1, vermicompost @ 7.5t ha-1 and NPK@ 40:60:20 kg ha-1. Treatments were replicated thrice in split plot design. Raised sowing methods recorded highest leaf area, crop growth, net assimilation rate and berries yield. An organic sources of nutrient FYM @ 15t ha-1 recorded significant effect on leaf area, crop growth and net assimilation rate and berries yield.