Effect of spacing and biofertilizers on growth and yield of garden cress (<em>Lepidium staivim</em> L.)

Abstract

Garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) is a medicinal plant, belonging to the family cruciferae. A field experiment was conducted with the combination of biofertilizers and spacing levels in a factorial RCBD with three replications to study their effects on growth and yield of garden cress. Maximum plant height (75.40 cm), biomass production per hectare (7.19 t) and seed yield per hectare (1.85 t) were recorded when garden cress was supplied with Azotobacter chroococcum @ 5 kg ha -1 + phosphate solubilizing bacteria @ 5 kg ha -1 with spacing of 30 cm x 10 cm. Significantly highest number of primary branches (19.12), number of leaves (44.0) and total dry matter accumulation per plant (44.90 g) were observed with the application of Azotobacter chroococcum @ 5 kg ha -1 + phosphate solubilizing bacteria @ 5 kg ha -1 with spacing of 45 cm x 20 cm.