Effect of planting methods and fertilizer levels on growth of mint (Mentha spicata L.)

A field experiment entitled, “Effect of planting methods and fertilizer levels on growth and yield of mint (Mentha spicata L.)” was conducted at College of Horticulture, Dapoli, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli during the year 2023-24. The experiment was laid out in Split plot design with 18 treatment combinations replicated thrice. The first factor consists of three planting methods i.e. 1) M1- Ridges and furrow method 2) M2- Raised bed method and 3) M3- Flat bed method and second factor consists of six fertilizer levels 1) F1- 100:50:40 NPK kg/ha 2) F2- 100:50:50 NPK kg/ha (control) 3) F3- 80:50:40 NPK kg/ha 4) F4- 80:50:50 NPK kg/ha 5) F5- 120:50:40 NPK kg/ha 6) F6- 120:50:50 NPK kg/ha. The results revealed that raised bed method of planting (M2) recorded significantly highest plant height (30.09 and 15.60 cm) Number of leaves (606.21 and 909.87) Number of branches (94.68 and 97.54) Plant spread E-W (39.81 and 37.25 cm) Plant spread N-S (39.41 and 42.28 cm). In fertilizer levels, application of 80:50:40 NPK kg/ha (F3) recorded maximum Plant height (34.88 and 16.97 cm) number of leaves (729.80 and 941.80) number of branches (100.84 and 97.71) plant spread E-W (41.63 and 38.33 cm) Plant spread N-S (41.47 and 40.80 cm). In interaction effect the treatment combination M2F3 recorded the highest plant height (39.30 and 17.69 cm), Number of leaves (792.27 and 1115.40), Plant spread E-W (47.41 and 40.54 cm) and Plant spread N-S (42.87 and 45.73 cm) at 60 DAP and at 30 days after harvesting. Number of branches recorded highest in M2F2 (113.40) treatment combination at 60 DAP and M2F3 treatment combination recorded highest number of branches (111.80) at 30 DAH.