Influence of integrated nutrient management system on phenological and growth attributing characters of ashwagandha (withania somnifera l. dunal)

The integrated nutrient management system is important for crop productivity and soil health. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera L. Dunal) is a widely used medicinal herb in Ayurveda. It is considered to be a Rasayana herb, an adaptogen and is commonly referred to as “Indian ginseng. A field experiment was conducted during the Kharif season of 2017-18 and 2018-19 near the college of agriculture farm. Tikamgarh, (M.P.) India to study the effect of integrated nutrient management system on phenological and growth attributing characters of Ashwagandha. The twelve treatment combinations of different fertilizers doses, biofertilizers and manures were tested in randomized block design with three replications. Integrated nutrient management system significantly influenced different phenological, growth attributes and physiological parameters of Ashwagandha. The significant maximum values were observed in days to flower initiation (68.5 DAS), plant height (64.74 cm.), several branches per plant (10.69), numbers of leaves per plant (100.40), leaf area per plant (823.81 cm2) and leaf area index (1.470) with T12 treatment (50% NPK/ha+5 tonnes FYM/ha+3kg PSB/ha + 3kg Azotobacter/ha+5kg Zn/ha). While maximum values in days to first fruit maturity (142.5 DAS) and leaf water potential (21.3 -ev bar) were recorded under the T1 treatment (100% NPK recommended dose 50:30:30 kg/ha). However, the effect on days to germination, days to primary branch, days to secondary branch and days to first fruit initiation was no significant.