Effect of sowing dates and seed rates on growth, yield and economics of ashwagandha.

HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE SUMMARY The present investigation entitled effect of sowing dates and seed rates on yield of ashwagandha during Kharif season of 2009-2010 on the Farm of Nagarjun Medicinal Plant Garden, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola. The soil of experimental site was medium black in colour, clayey in texture, medium in organic carbon, low in available nitrogen, phosphorus and medium to high in potash content. The soil was slightly alkaline in reaction. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications and twelve treatment combinations comprised with factor A viz., four sowing dates as 28 MW (D 1 ), 31 MW (D 2 ), 33 MW (D 3 ) and 35 MW (D 4 ) and factor B viz., three seed rates as 8 kg ha (S 1 ), 10 kg ha (S 2 ) and 12 kg ha (S 3 ). The results of the study showed that significantly maximum plant height and root shoot ratio, were recorded with sowing at 28 MW. Same characters were proved significantly better with 12 kg ha seed rate. There was no any significant effect of sowing dates on plant stand. Sowing on 28 MW week with seed rate 12 kg ha produced significantly maximum plant height, root shoot ratio, root and seed yield. The same treatment combinations recorded ultimately significantly maximum gross monetary returns, net monetary returns and B:C ratio.