EFFECTS OF ORGANIC MANURES ON GROWTH, YIELD AND OIL QUALITY PARAMETERS OF LEMON GRASS UNDER WILD POMEGRANATE BASED AGROFORESTRY SYSTEM
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Date
2023-12-02
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Effects of organic manures on growth, yield and oil quality
parameters of lemon grass under wild pomegranate based agroforestry system” was conducted during
2021-2022 at the experimental farm of Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Dr. Y. S. Parmar University
of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP). The study aimed to ascertain the effect of planting conditions
and organic manures on growth, yield and quality parameters of lemongrass, soil physico-chemical properties
and bio-economics of the system. The experiment was laid in Randomized Block Design comprising of two
planting conditions (wild pomegranate-based agroforestry system and open condition) under which lemongrass
was grown and applied with 10 treatments viz., T1: Recommended dose of nitrogen, T2: FYM (on nitrogen
equivalent ratio basis), T3: Vermicompost (on nitrogen equivalent ratio basis), T4: Goat manure (on nitrogen
equivalent ratio basis), T5: Jeevamrut @ 500 l/ha (5 %), T6: FYM and RDN on 50:50 equivalence basis,
T7: Vermicompost and RDN on 50:50 equivalence basis, T8: Goat manure and RDN on 50:50 equivalence basis,
T9: Jeevamrut and RDN on 50:50 equivalence basis, T10: Control. The results revealed that growth, yield and
quality parameters of lemongrass were better under open condition compared to agroforestry system. Among
different nutrient sources, treatment T8 (50 % goat manure + 50 % RDN) resulted in higher plant height, number
of tillers per plant, plant spread, fresh & dry herb yield, oil yield, Citral a and Citral b content, showing
superiority of integrated nutrient management in increasing growth and quality parameters over sole application
of organic manures or inorganic fertilizers. The physical and chemical properties of soil i.e., soil moisture (%),
electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available N, P and K were higher in T4 (goat manure) under wild
pomegranate-based agroforestry system compared to sole cropping. Whereas, net return (Rs 173935.93 ha-1) and
benefit cost ratio (3.25) was recorded maximum in integrated nutrient treatment i.e., T8 (50 % goat manure + 50
% RDN) under agroforestry system than in open condition. Based on the findings of this study, it can be
concluded that integration of inorganic fertilizers with organic manures in agroforestry system can be used with
optimum rates to improve crop productivity on sustainable basis.
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