Effect of various cow-based bio-enhancers and botanicals on growth, yield and quality of organic wheat

Abstract

An experiment was conducted on medium black calcareous clayey soil at Junagadh (Gujarat) in rabi 2016-17 and 2017-18. Twelve treatments comprising Panchagavya as foliar spray @ 3% at 30, 45 and 60 DAS, Jivamrut @ 500 L/ha with irrigation at sowing, 30, 45 and 60 DAS, Banana sap as foliar spray @ 1% at 30, 45 and 60 DAS and Seaweed extract as foliar spray @ 3.5% at 30, 45 and 60 DAS were evaluated alone and supplemented with FYM 6 t/ha) in comparison to Vermi compost 4 t/ha + FYM 6 t/ha + Bio fertilizers, FYM 24 t/ha, Control and 100% RDF (outside the organic plot) in randomized block design with three replications. The experimental results revealed that next to 100% RDF, application of FYM 24 t/ha and Panchagavya as foliar spray @ 3% at 30, 45 and 60 DAS + FYM 6 t/ha were found superior in respect of the growth parameters and yield attributes along with higher grain yield (4148 and 3877 kg/ha), straw yields (6383 and 6176 kg/ha) and application of Vermi compost 4 t/ha + FYM 6 t/ha + Bio fertilizers enhanced grain protein.