Vol.7 No.2 (2012)

THE EFFECT OF ORGANIC MANAGEMENT TREATMENTS ON THE PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF LEMON GRASS (CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS)

P. Punam*, Rameshwar Kumar, Sheetal Sharma & D. Atul

Abstract
An experiment was conducted at the Model Organic Farm of CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, Palampur (31º54' N and 76º17' E), Himachal Pradesh, India, to evaluate the effect of various organic management treatments on the productivity and quality of lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus). Organic inputs (viz. farm yard manure (FYM); vermicompost; agnihotra ash; and neem powder) were added at the time of planting, while Bt + Himbio and the biodynamic preparation BD 500 were sprayed regularly at one month intervals. Crops were sown on dates matching moon and non moon position according to the Biodynamic Planting Calendar. Addition of agnihotra ash along with sowing as per moon position resulted in a higher yield of lemon grass (+124%, +99%) and a higher oil per cent (+155%, +144%) over the control, in both the years of study. Sowing as per moon position may have improved germination rate, water absorption and metabolism of the plants, whereas addition of agnihotra ash may have stabilized the nutrients present in soil.

Keywords: lemongrass, integrated organic management, yield, oil percent, moon
position, agnihotra ash, biodynamic agriculture.

 

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