Vol. 12, Issue 11 (2023)

Author(s):
K Venkatalakshmi, G Harini, S Divya, N Divya Prabha, M Vaisali and S Jeyasrinivas

Abstract:
A field experiment was conducted at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Kudumiyanmalai, Pudukkottai district was conducted during the year of 2023 in order to investigate the effect of various green manure on growth and yield of stem amaranthus (Amaranthus viridis L.). To test their effect, 8 green manures (Sunnhemp, daincha, cowpea, cluster bean, horse gram, Kolingi, moth bean and Calopogonium) against control on amaranthus were studied. These green manures were incorporated at 35 DAS and allowed to decompose for 15 days. The green manure growth parameters viz., Plant height, number of branches/plants, green bio mass and dry bio mass were recorded. Apart from growth parameters, microbial population was also counted. The results showed that bacterial (252×10⁶/g of soil) and fungal population (20×10³⁶/g of soil) were also observed in Sunnhemp incorporated treatment. Stem Amaranthus (Amaranthus viridis) was sown as per the treatment schedule 15 days after the incorporation of green manures in-situ. Growth characters of Amaranthus viridis were recorded at 15 days after sowing and at harvest stage. All the growth characters viz., Plant height, no. of leaves, LAI and leaf stem ratio were higher in the sunnhemp as a green manure incorporated treatment followed by cowpea as a green manure incorporated treatment. Lowest growth attributed were recorded in the control plot. With respect to green foliage, highest foliage yield was observed in the sunnhemp (16,923 kg/ha) as a green manure incorporated treatment and the lowest green foliage yield is observed in control plot (2489 kg/ha). The highest net profit (Rs.1,35,680/ha) was also realized in the sunnhemp as a green manure incorporated treatment followed by cowpea as a green manure incorporated treatment.