Effect of Different Doses of Nitrogen and Spacing on Viola odorata Linn. (Banafsha) in Mid Hill Zones of Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Viola odorata Linn. (Banafsha) is an important herb for commercial cultivation in temperate as well as sub-tropical climate (preferring a shady conditions) in the Himalayas. No systematic information on nitrogen fertilizer application and planting geometry is available for this crop. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to study the effect of the different doses of nitrogen and spacing on Viola odorata Linn. (Banafsha) in mid hill zones of Himachal Pradesh in Randomized Block Design with 3 replications. Treatments consisted of 4 levels of nitrogen (0, 60, 90, 120 kg/ha) and 5 row spacing (10 x 10 cm, 15 x 15 cm, 20 x 20 cm, 25 x 25 cm and 30 x 30 cm), respectively. Full does of Phosphorus and Potassium (60 kg/ha each) were applied at the time of transplanting. 1000 seed weight was observed maximum for N 120 kg/ha. Maximum value of fresh weight of flower was observed at 10 x 10 cm spacing, while number of leaves per plant, pod diameter and 1000 seed weight were found highest at the spacing of 25 x 25 cm. Application of 120 kg N/ha and spacing of 25 x 25 cm produced significantly higher pedicel length, fresh weight of flowers, while 1000 seed weight was found maximum for N 90 kg/ha at a spacing of 25 x 25 cm.