Planta Med 2013; 79 - PN7
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1352351

Performance of Andrographis (Kalmegh) in tree based cropping systems under dryland conditions

LM Anne 1, RS Magunuru 1, J Bolla 1, RC Paladugu 2, SS Agepati 3
  • 1Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad
  • 2Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture, Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad
  • 3Department of Plant Physiology, College of Agriculture, Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad

A field experiment was conducted with andrographis in the existing plantations of amla and terminalia at College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad during kharif seasons of 2008 and 2009 to study the feasibility of medicinal plants under shade. Shade-tolerant and rhizomatic MAPs can be grown on a long-term basis in widely spaced plantations (1 Rao et al., 2004). The soil of the experimental site was red sandy loam. The treatments consisted of three cropping systems as main plot treatments and six INM treatments as sub plot treatments. The treatments were laid out in split plot design and replicated thrice. The results revealed that growth parameters of andrographis i.e., plant height, dry matter production and leaf area per plant were found maximum in sole cropping of andrographis followed by intercropping in amla and terminalia. Herbage yield (kg ha-1) of andrographis and andrographolide content (%) were the highest in sole cropping of andrographis followed by intercropping in amla. Herbage yield (5395.8 and 5192.6 kg ha-1 in first and second year) of andrographis were significantly more with INM practice i.e., M5 (20 kg N ha-1 through urea + Vermicompost @ 2 t ha-1).

References:

[1] Rao, M. R., Palada, M. C and Becker, B. N. 2004. Medicinal and aromatic plants in agroforestry systems. Agroforestry systems. 61: 107 – 122.