Effect of plant density and organic manures on growth, root yield and reserpine content of Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentina (L), Benth. ex Kurz)

Abstract

Sarpagandha is one of the most commercially viable indigenous medicinal plants. The root yield and alkaloid content of the plant has been reported to increase under Good Management Practices (GMP). However, the crop has not received the kind of attention that it deserves. Hence, two field experiments were conducted under AICRP on Medicinal & Aromatic Plants and Betelvine, Horticulture Research Station, OUAT, Bhubaneswar during 2013, 2014 and 2015 to study the effect of plant density (90 × 90 cm, 60 × 60 cm, 45 × 45 cm and 30 × 30 cm) and organic manures (FYM @ 20 t/ha, Mustard cake @ 2 t/ha, FYM @ 10 t/ha + Mustard cake @ 1 t/ha and control: without application of organic and inorganic nutrients) on the performance of sarpagandha. The sarpagandha planted at a spacing of 45 x 45 cm obtained maximum growth and fresh and dry root yield. Combined application of FYM @ 10 t/ha + Mustard cake @ 1 t/ha recorded higher dry root yield. However, application of FYM @ 20 t/ha exhibited the highest B:C ratio of 2.01 followed by T2: FYM @ 10 t/ha +M. Cake@ 1t/ha (1.95). The reserpine content of sarpagandha was not influenced by the different plant spacing and source of organic manures. Hence, it could be recommended that sarpagandha needs to be grown on commercial scale at a spacing of 45 x 45 cm and manured with FYM @ 20 t/ha.