Effect of integrated nutrient management on vegetative growth and economics of German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)

Abstract

The present investigation entitled “Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management in German chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla L.)” was conducted at Main Experiment Station, Department of Horticulture, Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Narendra Nagar (Kumarganj), Faizabad (U.P.) during two consecutive years 2015-16 and 2016-17. The experimental material i.e. German chamomile. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with seventeen treatments comprising of PSB, Azotobacter and FYM alone or in combination with each other and variable doses of N, P and K in three replications. Among the treatments applied in the present study, maximum plant height at bud initiation, plant height at flowering stage and plant height at harvest stage (59.10, 58.40 and 61.50 cm in 2015-16 and 60.85, 62.80 and 63.30 cm in 2016-17) was recorded in plants treated with 50% RDF + 5.0 kg Azotobactor + 5.0 kg PSB/ha (T17) followed by T1 (RDF (N:P:K-60:40:30kg/ha) and T16 (50% RDF + 2.5 kg Azotobactor + 2.5kg PSB/ha) which exhibited significant increase over other treatments during both the years of study. The maximum net return (Rs. 131341) was found under treatment combination 50% RDF + 5.0 kg Azotobactor + 5.0 kg PSB/ha (T17) followed by other treatment combinations. This is due to higher production of dry flowers yield and gave maximum Benefit: cost ratio i.e. 2.09.