Growth and Yield Variation in Andrographis paniculata as Influenced by Nutrient Levels and Harvesting Stages

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of integrated dose of manures and fertilizers and harvesting stages on growth and yield of Andrographis paniculata in the experimental farm as well as laboratory of Department of Forest Products, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan Himachal Pradesh during the year 2021-22. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) factorial under field conditions with eight treatments and three replications. Among various organic manures and fertilizers combinations treatment T2 (NPK @ 60:45:30 kg/ha) excelled over other treatments for all the growth and yield parameters i.e. plant height (46.98 cm), plant spread (30.07 cm2), number of branches per plant (19.89), number of leaves per plant (92.39), fresh stem weight per plant (20.30 g), dry stem weight per plant (12.90 g), fresh leaf weight per plant (13.87 g), dry leaf weight per plant (7.47 g), fresh above ground biomass per plant (35.29 g), dry above ground biomass per plant (20.70 g), estimated fresh above ground biomass (26.12 q/ha) and estimated dry above ground biomass (15.32 q/ha) which was followed by T7 (Vermicompost @ 3.3 t/ha + PK @ 45:30 kg/ha) and minimum values were recorded in control i.e. (T1). However, in case of interaction effect between organic manures, fertilizers and harvesting stages maximum values for estimated fresh above ground biomass (30.82 q/ha) and estimated dry above ground biomass (18.95 q/ha) were recorded in treatment combination T2H2 (NPK @ 60:45:30 kg/ha at flowering stage). Economic analysis revealed that NPK (60:45:30 kg/ha) had the highest benefit cost ratio of 2.06 which was followed by Jeevamrit + PK (45:30 kg/ha) i.e. 1.59 and minimum value was recorded in control.