Full Length Research Paper

Studies on effect of organic amendments and bio-stimulants on morphology, yield and quality of Gymnema sylvestre R.Br

S. Padmapriya, K. Kumanan and  K. Rajamani

Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore 641 003, India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: spadmapriyaa@yahoo.co.in.

Accepted 2 June, 2010

Abstract

The experiment on effect of organic amendments and growth promoters on morphology and yield of Gymnema sylvestre was laid out in split plot design with three replications. The main plot consisted of different combinations of basal application of organic amendments and the sub plots consist of the foliar spray of biostimulants such as, humic acid, panchagavya and Manchurian mushroom. The results revealed that the treatment combination, M₁S₄ that is, FYM (25 t/ha) + recommended dose of fertilizer (90:45:35 kg/ha of NPK/ha) combined with foliar spraying of panchagavya and Manchurian mushroom extract each at 3% and humic acid at 0.3%, recorded highest plant height (227.53, 286.47, 300.1 and 334.54 cm), number of leaves (62.0, 70.0, 82.0 and 95.0) number of branches (36.048.055.058.0), leaf area (12.60, 15.52, 17.50 and 18.92 cm²), fresh biomass (2.55, 3.22, 3.88 and 4.10 kg/plant) and dry biomass (0.638, 0.782, 0.890 and 0.913 kg/plant) at 180, 240, 300 and 360 days after transplanting, respectively. Regarding the quality parameters, the treatment combination, M₆S₄ (FYM (25 t/ha) + Vermicompost (5 t/ha) + Neem cake-250 kg) combined with foliar spraying of panchagavya and Manchurian mushroom extract each at 3% and humic acid at 0.3%, registered the highest crude gymnemic acid content of 485.74 mg 100 g^-1 dry weight.