Effect of the solid and foliar application of organic manures on growth and yield of lentil (Lens culinaris L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2024–25 at the Crop Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P.) on sandy loam soil with neutral pH to evaluate the effect of solid and foliar application of organic manures on growth and yield of lentil (Lens culinaris L.). The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design (RBD) with nine treatments, each replicated three times. The treatment combinations included: T1 – FYM 4 t/ha + Fish amino acid 1.5%, T2 – FYM 4 t/ha + Panchagavya 3%, T3 – FYM 4 t/ha + Vermiwash 5%, T4 – Vermicompost 1.33 t/ha + Fish amino acid 1.5%, T5 – Vermicompost 1.33 t/ha + Panchagavya 3%, T6 – Vermicompost 1.33 t/ha + Vermiwash 5%, T 7 – Goat manure 0.66 t/ha + Fish amino acid 1.5%, T8 – Goat manure 0.66 t/ha + Panchagavya 3%, and T9 – Goat manure 0.66 t/ha + Vermiwash 5%. Among the treatments, T9 (Goat manure 0.66 t/ha + Vermiwash 5%) recorded the significantly highest growth and yield parameters, including plant height (57.69 cm), number of branches per plant (22.27), number of nodules per plant (8.60), plant dry weight (4.048 g/plant), number of pods per plant (97), and seeds per pod (1.73). This treatment also produced the highest seed yield (1.88 t/ha) and stover yield (3.62 t/ha), along with maximum economic returns: gross return of 129,440 INR/ha, net return of 95,083.40 INR/ha, and a benefit-cost ratio of 2.77. These results suggest that the integrated application of Goat manure with Vermiwash is the most effective organic nutrient management practice for improving both growth and profitability in lentil cultivation.