Vol. 12, Issue 10 (2023)

Author(s):
Vipin Kumar, Dr. Meenu Sood, Vinaykumar Rachappanavar, Sumit Raj and Ritik Arya

Abstract:
The study was conducted in a peach orchard within the Department of Fruit Science and the field of medicinal and aromatic plants at Dr. YSP UHF Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, from 2016 to 2018. Lepidium sativum, commonly known as Chandrshoor, is a medicinal plant. The experiment encompassed nine treatments involving different combinations of Lepidium sativum, peaches, organic manures, and inorganic fertilizers. The results highlighted the effectiveness of vermicompost at 4t/ha as the optimal organic manure dose, leading to maximum straw yield (13.74 q/ha and 11.20 q/ha), seed yield per plant (2.98 g and 2.37 g), and total seed yield (9.93 q/ha and 7.90 q/ha), recorded in treatment T₆ (Prunus persica + Lepidium sativum + RDF NPK 60:30:30 kg/ha) over the two years. The highest cost of cultivation (Rs. 1,17,624.2/ha and Rs. 1,16,124.2/ha) was associated with vermicompost at 4t/ha when Lepidium sativum was grown under peach trees. Maximum net return (Rs. 1,52,166/ha and Rs. 1,27,556/ha) was obtained in T₆ (Prunus persica + Lepidium sativum + RDF NPK 60:30:30 kg/ha), with the highest benefit-to-cost ratio (2.46 and 2.12) found under peach trees in both years. The results demonstrated that Lepidium sativum performed well within the horti-medicinal agroforestry system compared to sole cropping, with no adverse effects on the growth, yield, or physiological attributes of medicinal herbs due to the presence of peach trees.