Integrated Nutrient Management, Irrigation, and Moisture Conservation Effects on Growth, Soil Moisture, and Root Traits of Chandrasur (Lepidium sativum L.)
Rajnish Kumar *
Division of Soil Conservation and Water Management, C.S. Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur (208002), India.
Bhupen Kumar Baruah
Department of Chemistry, Jagannath Batooah University, Jorhat, Assam, India.
Sarvesh Kumar
Division of Soil Conservation and Water Management, C.S. Azad University of Agriculture & Technology, Kanpur (208002), India.
Saurabh Kumar Verma
Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, College of Agriculture Colonelganj Gonda- 271502, A.N.D.U.A.T Kumarganj, Ayodhya -224229, India.
Shephali Sachan
Tropical Forest Research Institute, Jabalpur - 482021, M.P, India.
Drishty Katiyar
Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, Major S.D. Singh University, Fatehgarh, Farrukhabad (U.P.), 209749, India.
Mohit Kashyap
Department of Soil Science, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, Pincode- 176062, India.
Neelakshi Sharma
Department of Soil Science, Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur, Pincode- 176062, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Garden cress, known as Chandrasur (Lepidium sativum L.), is an underutilised crop with considerable nutritional and medicinal value. A field experiment was conducted during the winter seasons of 2015–16 and 2016–17 at the Soil Conservation and Water Management Farm of C.S.A. University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, to examine the effects of irrigation scheduling, integrated nutrient management (INM), and moisture conservation practices on crop growth, soil moisture dynamics, and root characteristics. The experiment followed a split-split plot design with three replications. Treatments comprised irrigation at 35 days after sowing (DAS), at 35 and 60 DAS, or at 35 and 70 DAS; three nutrient management treatments; and three moisture conservation practices. In 2015–16 and 2016–17, respectively, irrigation at 35 and 70 DAS produced the highest fresh root weights (20.40 and 21.86 g plant⁻¹) and dry root weights (7.90 and 8.36 g plant⁻¹). However, the greatest root depths (30.43 and 31.61 cm) were recorded with irrigation at 35 DAS. Among the INM treatments, 75% nitrogen supplied through inorganic fertiliser and 25% through vermicompost, together with phosphate-solubilising bacteria (PSB) at 2.5 kg ha⁻¹, produced the greatest root depths (29.61 and 30.35 cm), fresh root weights (19.67 and 21.02 g plant⁻¹), and dry root weights (7.50 and 8.18 g plant⁻¹) in the respective years. Similarly, weeding and hoeing combined with organic residue mulch at 4 t ha⁻¹ produced the highest fresh root weights (19.86 and 21.16 g plant⁻¹) and dry root weights (7.70 and 8.32 g plant⁻¹). The greatest proportion of soil moisture extraction occurred in the 0–25 cm soil layer. The findings indicate that appropriate irrigation scheduling, vermicompost-based nutrient management, and organic residue mulching combined with weeding and hoeing may improve soil moisture conditions and root development in Chandrasur.
Keywords: Chandrasur (Lepidium sativum L.), irrigation scheduling, integrated nutrient management, vermicompost, phosphate-solubilising bacteria, organic residue mulch, root characteristics