Abstract

Sivakumar V. and Ponnusami V.

Investigations were carried out at the Horticultural College and Research Institute to study the effect of spacing and bio-stimulants on the plant nutrient uptake of Solanum nigrum. The experiments were laid out in split plot design with three replications. The treatments consisted of four levels of spacing (M1 – 30 × 30 cm, M2 – 45 × 45 cm, M3 – 60 × 30 cm and M4 – 60 × 45 cm) and nine bio-stimulants/organics (S1– Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), S2 – control, S3 – panchagavya 2%, S4 – panchagavya 3%, S5 – moringa leaf extract 2%, S6 – moringa leaf extract 4%, S7 – humic acid, S8 – cytozyme 1% and S9 – vermicompost). Observations on nutrient uptake found that, the treatment closer spacing + RDF (M1S1) registered higher nitrogen uptake (223.83 kg ha-1 ) and phosphorous uptake (22.02 kg ha-1 ) followed by closer spacing + panchagavya 3% spray (M1S4) (202.64 kg ha-1 ) (Nitrogen uptake - 202.64 kg ha-1 and Phosphorous uptake -20.03 kg ha-1 ). Regarding the potassium uptake the treatment wider spacing + RDF (M4S1) combination recorded the highest K uptake (252.83 kg ha-1 ) followed by the treatment wider spacing + humic acid combination (M4S7) (227.14 kg ha-1 ).