TITLE:
Economics of Yield and Production of Alkaloid of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal
AUTHORS:
Atul Kumar Shrivastava, Pankaj K. Sahu
KEYWORDS:
Withania somnifera; INM; Yield; Alkaloid; Economics
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.4 No.10,
October
17,
2013
ABSTRACT: The yield
parameters and cost economics of Withania somnifera were studied using
Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) treatments. Withania somnifera is cultivated in around 10,780 ha with a
production of 8429 tones in India. The annual demand of this herb increased
from 7028 tones (2001-2002) to 9127 tones (2004-2005). The field experiment
was conducted at the research farm of Department of Plant Physiology, College
of Agriculture, Jabalpur during Kharif season
of 2008-2009 (1st year) and 2009-2010 (2nd year),
whereas the laboratory work was carried out in Quality Laboratory,
College of Agriculture, Jabalpur. The soil of experimental field was sandy loam
in texture with pH 7.5, EC 0.18 dsm-1 having good drainage. Soil
analysis revealed that available nitrogen was low (202.0 kg·ha-1)
whereas available phosphorus (16.25 kg·ha-1) and potassium (236.0 kg·ha-1)
were in the medium range. The present
paper shows how to determine the economics
of varying INM treatments. Cultivation of W. somnifera in India is gaining popularity among
farmers; however, due to poor soil fertility, and costly chemical fertilizers
and pesticides its production is not economical or profitable.