Analyzing the Efficacy of Organic and Inorganic Sources of Nitrogen and Phosphorus on Growth of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal.)

Abstract

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Dunal.) is an important medicinal plant whose roots are prescribed as medicine for 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 organic manures and fertilizers for ashwagandha. Treatments consisted of nitrogenous (N) and phosphatic (P) fertilizers at 20 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 that application of 40 kg ha^-1 of N and P each as urea and SSP + 2.5 t ha^-1 vermicompost registered significant values for plant height, number of branches per plant, leaf area, yield attributing traits, root (8.60 q ha^-1) and seed yield (85.6 kg ha^-1) as well as soil physical properties like organic carbon, hydraulic conductivity and water retention at 33 and 1500kpa besides the highest B:C ratio (2.57).