Response of recommended dose of fertilizers with organic manures on growth, yield and economics of kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata Nees.): A way to reduced use of chemical Fertilizers

Abstract

Background: Integrated application of nutrients is an important issue among the formers for obtaining higher growth and yield of kalmegh. Nutrients must be accessible at right time, proportion and quantity. Aim and Objective: To fulfill these necessities, chemical fertilizers and organic manures are required in integrated manner. Chemical fertilizers have ensured readily availability of particular nutrient for initial but organic sources release slow and long term availability of many nutrients and they improved the efficacy and reduced the quantity of chemical fertilizers. Materials and Methods: Therefore, fields study was taken up to bridge the gap at department of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops, College of Horticulture, RVSKVV, Mandsaur, (M.P.) during the Kharif season 2021-22 in RBD Design with three replications. The treatments accompanied with RDF NPK @ 50:30:30 kg ha-1, FYM @ 7.5 & 15 T ha-1 and vermicompost @ 0.5 & 1.0 T ha-1 along with a control plot without any supplements. Results: The result indicated that, the significant maximum plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf area index, relative growth rate, crop growth rate, biomass production at different growth stages and number of seeds per pod, pod length, pod dry weight, harvest index, dry herbage yield, seed yield, cost of cultivation, gross return, net return and benefit: cost ratio were observed in treatment T8-100% RDF+100% FYM+100% vermicompost. Conclusion: The treatment T8-100% RDF @ 50:30:30 kg ha-1+100% FYM @ 15 t ha-1+100% vermicompost @ 1 t ha-1 is found to be the best for achieving the highest growth and yield of kalmegh.