Evaluation of Kunapa jala and Pancha gavya on plant quality, physiology, biochemistry, yield and growth attributes – A case study of Withania somnifera Dun.

Abstract

Background‘Vrikshayurveda’, an ancient science of plant life described by Surapala, has clearly outlined a systematized agricultural practice that insisted on the use of Kunapa jala (KJ) and Pancha gavya (PG) to enhance the yield and quality of plants.ObjectiveAn experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of KJ and PG on growth, physiological, biochemical, quality attributes and yield of Withania somnifera Dun.Materials and methodsThe effect of KJ and PG was evaluated in comparison with control, organic (farmyard manure and humic acid) and inorganic (NPK) fertilizer at 60, 90, 120 and 150 days after sowing (DAS). The study was conducted in randomized complete block design method.ResultsKJ group were higher in, total leaf area (1707.89 cm2) at 120 DAS, leaf area index (3.795) at 120 DAS, crop growth rate (0.256 g m−2 day−1) at 60–90 DAS, leaf area duration (101.909) at 120–150 DAS, relative growth rate (0.0170 g g−1 day−1) at 60–90 DAS, net assimilation rate (0.0537 g m−2 day−1) at 60–90 DAS. Leaf area ratio was higher in PG group (37.937 m2 g−1) at 60 DAS. The higher levels of chlorophyll a, b and carotenoids were in KJ group (1.877, 0.745 and 1318.14 mg g−1 respectively) at 90 DAS. Yield and quality attributes at harvest (150 DAS) indicated, higher dry root yield (5.93 quintal hectare−1), root length (15.66 cm) were higher in KJ group and root diameter was higher in PG group (1.36 cm).ConclusionVrikshayurveda practices viz. Kunapa jala and Pancha gavya were effective on studied parameters of W. somnifera. Economical and eco-friendly Vrikhayurveda practices can be initiated for sustainable agriculture.

Effect of Organic Liquid Manure of Kunapajala on Growth and Yield of Bhindi [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench.]

“…The application of organic liquid manures significantly enhanced the plant growth parameters due to the better and rapid availability of essential plant nutrients. Kunapajala application enhanced the growth attributes and these observations are in lines with the report of Brajeshwar, (2002), Mishra (2007), Deshmukh et al (2012), Ali et al (2012), Sarkar et al (2013) and Ankad et al (2017). Increased plant height might be due to increased uptake of nutrients.…”

Response of herbal kunapajala on vegetative, flowering and corm attributes of gladiolus cv. Jessica

“…10% Kunapajala led to early germination due to increased αamylase activity, resulting in accelerated growth and flowering. These findings align with previous studies on ashwagandha and gladiolus, indicating Kunapajala's efficacy in improving vegetative parameters (Ankad et al, 2017;Tamrakar et al, 2018) [2,22] . Fermented fertilizers containing active phenolic compounds, which potentially inhibit oxidase activity and increasing the tenacity of IAA in plants, enhancing the florets number per spike in gladiolus (Sankari et al, 2015) [20] .…”

Influence of Fermented Organic Manures on Growth Parameters, Soil Health, and Economics of Basil (Ocimum Basilicum) Under Tarai Region of Uttrakhand, India

“…Furthermore, a study conducted by Kumbar et al (2016) highlighted the positive effect of jeevamrit application on the increased yield and yield-attributing characteristics of French beans. Similarly, Ankad et al (2017) found similar results in Withania somnifera, where kunapajala treatments resulted in higher leaf area index, and total leaf area, chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids.In contrast, soil application of farmyard manure showed lower yield attributes compared to the various doses of liquid manures. This finding is consistent with the results of Swain et al (2015), who demonstrated that plant height, the number of branches, and yield can be increased by applying a bio-enhancer at intervals of 10 days in chili crops.…”