THAKUR, C LJATIN KUMAR2020-10-302020-10-302020-10https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810153999ABSTRACT The present investigation entitled “Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield of Eclipta prostrata L. under based Agroforestry System” was carried out in the experimental farm of Department of Silviculture and Agroforestry, Dr. Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh during year 2019-20. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design (factorial). The investigations were conducted with a view to ascertain the effects of 10 different nutrient sources [T1 : 100% FYM (Farm Yard Manure), T2 : 100% RDF (Recommended dose of fertilizer), T3 : 100% Vermicompost, T4 : Jeevamrut @ 5%, T5 : 25% NPK + 75% FYM, T6 : 50% NPK + 50% FYM, T7 : 75% NPK + 25% FYM, T8 : 50% NPK + 50% Vermicompost, T9 : 75% NPK + 25% Vermicompost and T10 : Control (No Fertilizer)] and planting conditions (P1 : Under tree canopy and P2 : Open condition) on the growth and yield of Eclipta prostrata (Bhringraj) and physico-chemical properties of the soil. All the nutrient sources had significant effect on the growth and yield attributes of Bhringraj. Most of the growth parameters viz., plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of leaves per plant, number of flower heads per plant, leaf area, Leaf Area Index, collar diameter, root length, number of secondary roots, root surface area and root thickness and all the yield parameters viz., fresh weight of shoot and leaves, dry weight of shoot and leaves, fresh weight of roots, dry weight of roots and total fresh and dry weight of plants attained their maximum values in T8 i.e. 50 % RDF + 50 % Vermicompost. However, time taken for 50 % flowering and for reaching full bloom stage was found maximum in T10 i.e. Control. Planting conditions also had a significant influence on growth and yield parameters of Bhringraj. All the growth and yield parameters were found to be maximum under the tree canopy (P1). However, the maximum number of days taken for 50 % flowering and for reaching full bloom stage were observed in open condition (P2). Soil physico-chemical properties also improved after the crop harvesting in both the planting conditions but, the improvement was more enhanced under the tree canopy. There was increase in soil available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, soil EC and soil organic carbon. However, soil pH and bulk density followed reverse trend with a slight decrease in their values under the tree canopy. From the present investigation, it can be concluded that treatment T8 i.e. 50 % NPK + 50 % Vermicompost under tree canopy gave the best results of growth and yield attributes of Bhringraj as well as soil physico-chemical properties. Therefore, Eclipta prostrata L. being a partial shade tolerant plant species can be recommended to the farmers to be grown as an intercrop under Grewia based agroforestry system.EnglishThesis