INTEGRATED NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT IN Andrographis paniculata INTERCROPPED IN PONGAMIA BASED AGRI- SILVI SYSTEM

An experiment entitled “Integrated nutrient management in Andrographis paniculata (Kalmegh) intercropped in Pongamia based AgriSilvi system” was conducted during Kharif 2013 in sandy loam soils at Students farm, College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad which is geographically situated at 17 19 N latitude, 78 28 E longitude at an altitude of 542.3 m above mean sea level, under Southern Telangana agro climatic zone of Andhra Pradesh. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with eight treatments namely T1 Control, T2 100% RDF (75:50:50 NPK), T3 Farm yard manure @ 5 t ha, T4 Vermicompost @ 2 t ha, T5 Neem cake @ 1 t ha, T6 50% RDF + 50% Farm yard manure, T7 – 50% RDF + 50% Vermicompost, T8 – 50% RDF + 50% Neem Cake replicated thrice. The morphological growth characters of Andrographis paniculata such as plant height, leaf area and dry matter production were maximum with the application of 50% RDF + 50% Neem Cake over the other treatments at all stages of crop growth. Yield and yield attributes were significantly influenced by integrated nutrient management treatments. Number of pods plant, seeds pod, fresh and dry herbage yield of Andrographis paniculata was significantly higher with 50% RDF + 50% Neem Cake over Control followed by 50% RDF + 50% Vermicompost. Fresh and dry herbage yield 2968.9 and 2078.2 kg ha was recorded in 50% RDF +50% Neem cake compared to 1386.6 and 970.6 kg ha in control. PAR values did not vary significantly due to integrated nutrient management treatments. Effect of integrated nutrient management treatments on soil chemical properties such as OC, EC and pH was found non significant. Available N content was significantly higher in all treatments than control. However, 50% RDF + 50% Neem Cake showed higher levels of available N than 50% RDF + 50% Vermicompost. Available P and K content were found to be higher in all the treatments compared to control and initial values. However, 50% RDF + 50% Neem Cake showed higher levels of available P and K contents than 50% RDF + 50% Vermicompost. Significantly higher nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium uptake by the Andrographis paniculata was recorded with 50% RDF + 50% Neem Cake followed by 50% RDF + 50% Vermicompost which was significantly higher than control. Highest gross ( 49179), net returns ( 25229) and higher B: C (2.05) ratio were recorded in 50% RDF + 50% Neem Cake and followed by 50% RDF + 50% Vermicompost (1.97).