Effect of Organic Sources of Nutrients on Growth and Growth Indices of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) Under Mid Hill Conditions of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Research Farm, Department of Agronomy, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur during the Kharif 2019, to evaluate the effect of organic nutrient sources on growth and growth indices of cowpea. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design consisting of eight treatments [T₁-Bijamrita + Jiwamrita (5%, 10% and 10%, respectively at 21, 42 & 63 DAS), T₂–Bijamrita + Ghanajiwamrita (250 kg/ha), T₃ - Bijamrita + Jiwamrita (5%, 10% and 10%, respectively at 21, 42 & 63 DAS) + Ghanajiwamrita (250 kg/ha), T₄ - Farm yard manure (10 t/ha), T₅ - Farm yard manure (10 t/ha) + Ghanajiwamrita (250 kg/ha), T₆ - Biofertilizers (Rhizobium + PSB @ 10g/kg of seed) + Farm yard manure (10t/ha) + Vermiwash at 15, 30 & 45 DAS (1:10), T₇ - Biofertilizers (Rhizobium + PSB @10 g/kg of seed) + Vermicompost (7.5 t/ha) + Vermiwash at 15, 30 & 45 DAS (1:10), T₈ - Absolute control]. Application of farm yard manure @10 t/ha + Ghanajiwamrita @ 250 kg/ha resulted in the significantly higher values of plant height, dry matter accumulation, absolute growth rate and unit area efficiency over rest of the treatments.