Growth, yield, andrographolide content and total antioxidant activity of Kalmegh [Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees] under variable nitrogen rates and organic manures application in Indo-Gangetic plains of India

• Published in: Journal of plant nutrition 2024-12, Vol.47 (20), p.4048-4060
• Main Authors: Verma, Himanshu, Negi, M. S., Mahapatra, B. S., Shukla, Anil, Paul, Jai, Bhatt, Manoj Kumar, Singh, S. P., Prakash, Om
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Andrographolide; Antioxidants; Biological activity; Biological effects; Composting; Crop production; Fertility; Kalmegh; Manures; Nitrogen; Nutrient content; Nutrient status; Organic fertilizers; organic manure; Organic wastes; Phosphorus pentoxide; Poultry; Poultry manure; Soil nutrients; vermicompost; Vermicomposting; yield
• ISSN: 0190-4167; 1532-4087
• DOI: 10.1080/01904167.2024.2397388

Kalmegh is an important medicinal crop because of the most important biologically active phyto-chemical called andrographolide. Production of higher herbage yields with appropriate quality in terms of andrographolide is largely dependent upon efficient nutrient management. This study aimed to assess the effect of organic manures application and variable nitrogen rates on growth, yield, andrographolide content and total antioxidant activity of Kalmegh. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three levels of organic manures [M 1 - Control, M 2 - vermicompost @ 5 t ha −1 and M 3 - poultry manure @ 5 t ha −1 ] and four fertility levels [F 1 - 0: 50: 50, F 2 - 50: 50: 50, F 3 - 75 (37.5 + 37.5): 50: 50 and F 4 - 75: 50: 50 kg ha −1 N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O, respectively] replicated thrice. The highest dry herbage yields and andrographolide content of kalmegh were recorded with vermicompost @ 5 t ha −1 + 75 (37.5 + 37.5): 50: 50 N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O kg ha −1 followed by poultry manure @ 5 t ha −1 + 75 (37.5 + 37.5): 50: 50 N, P 2 O 5 and K 2 O kg ha −1 during both the years while, lower yields due to control. Dry herbage and andrographolide yield were found to be highest in M 2 ×F 3 compared with M 1 ×F 1 . Our study concluded that the application of vermicompost @ 5 t ha −1 along with 75 kg ha −1 N in two splits and 50 kg ha −1 of each P 2 O 5 and K 2 O resulted higher yield and andrographolide content which, would provide better soil nutrient status in sustainable manner without affecting ecological balances.