Volume: 43 Issue: 1
Evaluation of productivity and quality of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal under different plant populations, irrigation levels and moisture conservation practices in sub-tropical plains of North India
Year: 2021, Page: 37-48, Doi: https://doi.org/10.62029/jmaps.v43i1.Kaur
Received: Feb. 26, 2021 Accepted: May 20, 2021 Published: July 1, 2021
The roots of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal is utilized to treat various ailments, including bronchitis, dropsy, stomach issues, lung inflammation, tuberculosis, asthma, skin conditions as well as male impotency. The demand for quality raw material of W. somnifera is increasing in the global market, which can be met through enhancing productivity with better quality by adopting appropriate agricultural practices. However, the complete information on input efficient agropractices is still limited on this plant. Hence, the present study is planned to optimize the plant population, irrigation level and moisture conservation practice for enhancing the productivity and quality of its roots. Two field experiments were conducted at CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants farm, Lucknow, comprising eight plant populations (166,666, 200,000, 250,000, 333,333, 400,000, 500,000, 666,666, and 1,000,000 plants ha-1) in first and having four irrigation levels (rainfed, 20±5% total available water (TAW), 40±5% TAW and 60±5% TAW) with three moisture conservation practices (dust mulch, distillation waste mulch, and control) in two consecutive years (2015-16 and 2016-17) in second. Results revealed that plant population of 400,000 plants ha-1 provided the maximum root yield (1030 kg ha-1), total withanolide yield (3.64 kg ha-1) and net return (88,453 INR ha-1). In the second experiment, the irrigation at 20±5% TAW with dust mulch was recorded to be an appropriate combination for obtaining the highest biological yield (696 kg ha-1) and yield of biologically active substances (3.62 kg ha-1). Net return was recorded highest (90, 980 INR ha-1) when irrigations were applied at 20±5% TAW with dust mulch. Thus, plant population at 400,000 plants ha-1, providing irrigation at 20±5% TAW and using dust mulch for moisture conservation practice is recommended for obtaining higher yield and profit in the cultivation of Withania under subtropical plains of India.
Keywords: Ashwagandha, Irrigation levels, Moisture conservation practices, Mulching, Plant populations, Withanolides
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© CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow-226015
Kaur, P., Nilofer, Singh, A. K., Kumar, D., Kumar, A., Verma, K., Singh, A., Singh, K. P., Chaudhary, A., Anandakumar, T. M., Kumar, R., & Singh, S. (2021). Evaluation of productivity and quality of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal under different plant populations, irrigation levels and moisture conservation practices in sub-tropical plains of North India. Journal of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Sciences, 43(1), 37–48.
