Analyzing  the  efficacy  of  organic  and  inorganic  sources  of  nitrogen  and  phosphorus  ongrowth  of  ashwagandha  (Withania  somnifera  Dunal.)

S.  Manohar; M.R.  Choudhary; B.L.  Yadav; S.  Dadheech; S.P.  Singh

Analyzing the efficacy of organic and inorganic sources of nitrogen and phosphorus ongrowth of ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal.)

Autores

Editor

Society for Promotion of Horticulture

Descripción

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal.) is an important medicinal plant whose roots are prescribed as medicinefor several disorders of females, bronchitis, dropsy, stomach problems, lung inflammation, tuberculosis, arthritis,skin diseases and male impotency. The present experiment was designed to work out a suitable dose of organicmanures and fertilizers for ashwagandha. Treatments consisted of nitrogenous (N) and phosphatic (P) fertilizers at20 kg ha-1 and 40 kg ha-1 each, and two levels of farm yard manure (FYM) and vermicompost and combinations thereof,along with control. The treatments were replicated thrice in Randomized Block Design. Results revealed thatapplication of 40 kg ha-1 of N and P each as urea and SSP + 2.5 t ha-1 vermicompost registered significant values forplant height, number of branches per plant, leaf area, yield attributing traits, root (8.60 q ha-1) and seed yield (85.6 kgha-1) as well as soil physical properties like organic carbon, hydraulic conductivity and water retention at 33 and1500kpa besides the highest B:C ratio (2.57).