Growth Indices and Dry Matter Production and Partitioning in Ashwagandha as Influenced by Integrated Nutrient Management Practices and Summer Irrigation

The present experiment was undertaken at the College of Agriculture, Padannakkad during 2015-17 to study the effect of integrated nutrient management practices and summer irrigation on growth indices and dry matter production in ashwagandha. The experiment was laid out in RBD with 14 treatments. The treatments were T1-HDP in trenches mulched with polythene and filled with enriched growing medium, T2-T1 + Recommended dose of NPK, T3-T1 + Liquid organic manures, T4-T2 + azospirillum, T5-T3 + azospirillum, T6-T4 + B and Mg, T7-T5 + B and Mg, T8-T6 + Summer irrigation at 15 mm CPE, T9-T7 + Summer irrigation at 15 mm CPE, T10-T6 + Summer irrigation at 30 mm CPE, T11-T7 + Summer irrigation at 30 mm CPE, T12-HDP in trenches filled with enriched growing medium, T13-NRP in trenches filled with enriched growing medium, T14-Broadcasting in trenches filled with enriched growing medium. SPAD chlorophyll meter reading, root shoot ratio and LAI showed significant variation due to treatment effects. Leaf, stem, root, berries and total dry matter production were found to be significantly influenced by integrated nutrient management practices and summer irrigation. Though T6 was found superior with respect to total dry matter production, T10 was beneficial in relation to the production of economic part, i.e., root.