Integrated Nutrient Management through Biofertilizers, Farmyard Manure and Nitrogen Doses for Enhancing Growth and Physiological Development of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

Abstract

The Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine use the roots of Ashwagandha, as well as occasionally its leaves and seeds. It has hypotensive, diuretic, and laxative effects. Less work has been conducted to enhance the root and biological productivity of crops using inorganic fertilisers, and there is inadequate work reported so far on the use of biofertilisers to enhance productivity and active ingredients of crops. Therefore, the present study was planned to find out the effect of the combined applications of biofertilizers, farmyard manure and nitrogen doses combination on the physiological efficiency and growth dynamics of Ashwagandha. The investigation was conducted at the Herbal Garden, Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, JNKVV Jabalpur (M.P.) during the Rabi season 2022-23. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomised Block Design with three replications and eight treatments, viz., control (T1), (T2), (T3), (T4), (T5), (T6), (T7), and (T8). The results revealed that the maximum plant height, number of primary branches, number of secondary branches, and number of tertiary branches were. number of leaves, root diameter, and root length were found with the combined application of Azotobacter @ 5 kg + PSB @ 5 Kg + FYM @ 10,000 Kg ha-1. The maximum RWC (%), proline content and chlorophyll content were recorded under the application of Azotobacter @ 5 kg + PSB @ 5 Kg + FYM @ 10,000 Kg ha-1. The maximum WSD (%) was found in Withania grown without biofertilizer, FYM or nitrogen, i.e. control. The application of Nano urea @ 2L ha-1 was most effective in increasing membrane stability (MSI). The study revealed that the growth parameters and physiological efficiency were favourably increased by the combined application of biofertilizers, FYM and nitrogen.