Influence of Organic Manures Doses in Growth and Production of Artemisia annua Linn.

Abstract

Artemisia annua has been certified as an essential ethnomedicinal herb, that has been used in ancient pharmacopeias of various European and Asian countries. Artemisia contains chemical compounds Artemisinin that is extracted from aerial parts leaves, stems, flowers and seeds and known for the antimalarial properties and multidrug resistance against Plasmodium falciparum. To enhance the production of artemisinin it is advisable that proper supply of nutrients is required by the plant. The present field experiment entitled “Growth and Production of Artemisia annua Linn. Under the Influence of Different Doses of Organic Manures” was carried out in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research block, Department of Plantation crops, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, College of Horticulture, VCSG Uttrakhand University of Horticulture and Forestry, Bharsar, Pauri Garhwal, Uttrakhand. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with 3 replications 9 treatments viz., T1:Control, T2:FYM (100%), T3:Vermicompost (100%), T4: FYM (75%) + Goat manure (25%),  T5: FYM (75%) + Neemcake (25%), T6: FYM (75%) + Poultry manure (25%), T7: Vermicompost (75%) + Goat manure (25%), T8: Vermicompost(75%) + Neemcake (25%) and T9: Vermicompost(75%) + Poultry manure (25%). The study revealed that organic manure has positive influence in plants growth, yield, economic and soil properties and they were more effective when they were applied in combination as compared to sole application. Under the study data revealed that combined application of vermicompost and poultry manure showed maximum plant height (cm), maximum  number of branches/ plant, plant spread(cm) , floral spikes, days of 50% flowering, leaf area(cm2), leaf area index, fresh biomass(g), dry biomass(g), chlorophyll content, relative water content (%), leaf yield (g), seed yield(g) and economic studies among all the treatments. The above study reveals that global and sustainable approach for the improvement in medicinal plants quality is possible with the establishment of the organic system of management of crops.