Effect of spacing time of harvest and npk levels on growth yield and quality of medicinal coleus coleus forskohlii briq under irrigated condition

Abstract

Field experiments were carried out to study the response of medicinal coleus to newlinespacing, time of harvest and different levels of NPKduring kharif 2004 and 2005 under newlineirrigated condition at Kittur Rani Channamma College of Horticulture, Arabhavi. newlineResults revealed that the spacing of 60 cm x 20 cm produced significantly higher dry newlinetuber (1.57 t/ha) and forskolin yield, net returns (Rs. 56,822/ha) and B: C ratio than other newlinespacing levels. The crop harvested at 180 and 160 days after planting (DAP) recorded newlinesignificantly higher tuber (1.45 and 1.39 t/ha, respectively) and forskolin yield, net returns and newlineB: C ratio than 140 DAP. Among the interactions, harvesting at 160 or 180 DAP and spacing newlineof 60 cm x 20 cm recorded significantly higher tuber yield, quality and net returns. newlineApplication of N at 50 kg per hectare recorded significantly higher tuber (1.65 t/ha) newlineand forskolin yield, net returns and B: C ratio than other N levels. Application of 100 kg P2O5 newlineper hectare recorded significantly higher tuber yield (1.45 t/ha), quality, net returns and B: C newlineratio than 50 kg P2O5 per hectare. Potassium application at 50 and 100 kg K2O per hectare newlineproduced significantly higher tuber yield (1.49 and 1.36 t/ha, respectively), quality and net newlinereturns than 150 kg K2O per hectare. newlineAmong interactions, N50P100K100 and N50P100K50 recorded significantly higher tuber newlineyield than other interactions however, they were on par with N50P50K50 and N50P100K150. Net newlinereturns and B: C ratio in N50P50K50, N50P100K50 and N50P100K100, and forskolin yield in N50P50K50 newlinewere significantly higher than other treatment combinations. newlineThe study indicated that planting the crop at the spacing of 60 cm x 20 cm, harvesting newlineat 160 DAP and nutrients application in the combination of N50P50K50 was found optimum for newlinehigher tuber yield, quality and returns under irrigated condition. newline