Effect of farm yard manure treated with jeevamrutha on yield attributes, yield and economics of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.).

A field experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station, Bheemarayanagudi, Karnataka, India during Kharif season of 2006 to study the effect of farmyard manure (FYM) treated with Jeevamrutha (desi cow dung, desi cow urine, pulse flour, jaggery, rhizosphere soil solution), on soil properties and yield of sunflower. The yield attributes viz., test weight, seed yield, and stalk yield were significantly influenced by various treatments. FYM at the rate 7.5 t/ha + 100% RDF, significantly increased the test weight (49.26 g), seed yield (1774 kg/ha), and stalk yield (4.21 t/ha) compared to control (36.62 g, 851 kg/ha, 2.83 t/ha respectively), except treatment receiving FYM at the rate of 7.5 t/ha + Jeevamrutha treatment. Highest cost of cultivation per hectare was recorded with the application of FYM at the rate of 7.5 t/ha + 100% RDF (recommended dose of fertilizer) (Rs. 8479/ha) due to high cost of FYM and fertilizer, followed by the treatments FYM at the rate of 3.75 t/ha + 100% RDF (Rs. 7791/ha) and FYM at the rate of 7.5 t/ha + Jeevamrutha (Rs. 7345/ha). Lowest cost of cultivation was recorded in control (Rs. 4720/ha). Application of FYM at the rate of 7.5 t/ha + 100% RDF recorded highest gross returns (Rs. 35 551/ha) and it was on par with the treatment FYM at the rate of 7.5 t/ha Jeevamrutha (Rs.34 729/ha), however, it was significantly superior over other all treatments. The application of jeevmrutha, increased the activity of microbes by solubilization and uptake of nutrients was enhanced.