Cultivation of Aswagandha (Withania somniferaDunal) duringrabiseason is more economical as compared tokharifseason

Abstract

Aswagandha (Withania somnifera dunal) is grown as late kharif crop in all over India particularly in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Being a midseason crop, Aswagandha cultivation is very limited and farmers are hesitating in growing it. The continuous long duration or heavy rains in starting of rainy season caused severe losses to aswagandha crop. This loss can be reduce only by choosing the low rainfall areas or by planting aswagandha after passing the heavy rainfall days of August to September month. The experiment was conducted on growing of aswagandha with two released varieties and four advance genotypes of aswagandha during kharif and rabi season in the year 2008–09 and 2009–10. The observation recorded on plant height (cm), number of branches, root length(cm), root width(cm) and dry root yield (q/ha) in both the season. All the characteristics showed slight decline in magnitude in Rabi season except Number of branches and root length (cm). Though there was a decline in dry root yield (q/ha) at genotypic level in Rabi season but the average dry root yield was 5–8 q/ha in both the season. The major diseases viz mortality of seedlings and root rot which are common in kharif season was not observed in Rabi season. The weed management and the quality of roots can easily be maintained in rabi season. Study recommended that the growing of aswagandha during rabi season is more suitable as well as more economical (farmers can save Rs 3000–4000/ha) for cultivation in the state.