Journal Journal

of Applied
Appl Journal of Applied Horticulture, 23(1): 50-53, 2021 Horticulture
DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2021.v23i01.10 ISSN: 0972-1045

Effect of levels of NPK on growth and yield of Isabgol (Plantago

ovata Forsk)

P. Sahu1, I.S. Naruka1, R.P.S. Shaktawat2* and A. Haldar1

1
Department of Plantation, Spices, Medicinal and Aromatic Crops, RVSKVV College of Horticulture, Mandsaur-458001
(Madhya Pradesh) India. 2RVSKVV Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Agar Malwa-465441 (Madhya Pradesh), India.
*E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract
An experiment was conducted at Horticulture Experimental Farm, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur (Madhya Pradesh, India) to
study the effect of different levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on growth and yield of Isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk) using
randomized block design with 3 replications. There were 9 treatments in the experiment viz., 30:15:10 kg NPK ha-1, 30:15:20 kg NPK
ha-1, 30:30:10 kg NPK ha-1, 30:30:20 kg NPK ha-1, 60:15:10 kg NPK ha-1, 60:15:20 kg NPK ha-1, 60:30:10 kg NPK ha-1, 60:30:20 kg
NPK ha-1 and absolute control. Results revealed that application of 60:30:20 kg NPK ha-1 gave significantly higher value of growth,
and yield attributes and economics as compared to other treatments.
Key words: Growth, Isabgol, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, yield

Introduction quality. It is constituent of nucleic acid, phytin and phospholipids

(Jajoria et al., 2013). Potassium application increases the plant’s
Blond psyllium (Plantago ovata Forsk.) commonly known as
growth and yield because it participates in the mechanism of
“Isabgol” is one of the important medicinal plant. It’s an important
stomatal movement, photosynthesis and helps in osmo-regulatory
winter season crop belongs to the family plantaginaceae. It
comprises about 200 species of which 10-14 are native of India. adaption of plant due to water stress (Patel et al., 2012). Adequate
But only three species P. ovata, P. psyllum and P. indica are potassium nutrition has been shown to enhance disease resistance
economically important. India has the monopoly in production in plants. Keeping all these in mind, a study on effect of different
and export of the seed and husk in the world market (Farooqi levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium on growth and yield
and Sreeramu, 2001). About 80-90 per cent of the produce is of Isabgol (Plantago ovata Forsk) was conducted.
exported to various countries. In India, Isabgol is commercially
cultivated in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Rajasthan. Materials and methods
In Madhya Pradesh, it is largely grown in Neemuch and Mandsaur
The field experiment was conducted during Rabi season of
districts, covering an area of 6400 ha, with a total production of
8960 tonnes and productivity of 1.4 mt (Anonymous, 2015). India 2015-16 at the Horticulture Experimental Farm, College of
produces 9 million tonnes of blond psyllium which is 98% of the Horticulture, Mandsaur (Madhya Pradesh) on light black loamy
world’s total production. soil having pH 7.8, EC 0.65 dS/m, 175 kg available nitrogen
ha-1, 11.2 kg available phosphorus ha-1 and 355 kg available
The response and requirement of various nutrients differ widely
potassium ha-1. The average annual rainfall was 744 mm. The
on the agro-climatic condition and management practices.
experiment was conducted using randomized block design with
Among the nutrients, the application of nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium have been found to play significant role in improving three replications. There were 9 treatments in the experiment viz.,
the yield potential and quality of seed and husk of Isabgol 30:15:10 kg NPK ha-1 (T1), 30:15:20 kg NPK ha-1 (T2), 30:30:10
under variable range of soil and agro-climatic conditions and kg NPK ha-1 (T3), 30:30:20 kg NPK ha-1 (T4), 60:15:10 kg NPK
their application in proper amount and in proper time will go ha-1 (T5), 60:15:20 kg NPK ha-1 (T6), 60:30:10 kg NPK ha-1,
for higher crop production. Availability of nitrogen is of prime 60:30:20 kg NPK ha-1 (T8) and control (T9). The Isabgol cv., JI-4
importance for growing plants as it is a major and indispensable was sown in each plot. Treatments were applied in the form of
constituent of protein and nucleic acid molecules (Troug, 1973). urea, SSP and MOP. Full dose of phosphorus and potash were
The increased nitrogen supply is known to accelerate the synthesis applied prior to sowing. Nitrogen was applied in two split doses
of chlorophyll and amino acid resulting in increased vegetative at 40 and 55 days after sowing (DAS).
growth. Phosphorus is the key element in the process involving
conversion of solar energy into plant food. It helps in early Data recorded for various growth and yield parameters were
root development and also enhances maturity. Application of statistically analyzed using the analysis of variance as described
phosphorus not only increases the crop yield but also improves the by Panse and Sukhatme (1985).
Journal of Applied Horticulture (www.horticultureresearch.net)
 Effect of levels of N P K on growth and yield of Isabgol 51

Result and discussion per plant (4.41) was recorded under treatment 60:30:20 kg NPK
ha-1 which was 12.5, 16.05, 18.48, 22.84 and 60.94 percent
Plant height: Plant height was significantly affected by higher as compared to 60:30:10 kg NPK ha-1, 60:15:20 kg NPK
application of different levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and ha-1, 30:30:20 kg NPK ha-1, 30:30:10 kg NPK ha-1 and absolute
potash. The highest significant plant height was recorded at 30, control, respectively. Increase in number of tillers per plant might
60 and 90 DAS (12.50, 26.58 and 40.11 cm, respectively) under be due to increased growth of plant in the form of height and
the treatment 60:30:20 kg NPK ha-1, which was 75.31, 79.59 number of leaves, which accumulated more photosynthates and
and 77.71 percent higher over absolute control, respectively. thereby increased number of tillers per plant. These findings are
However, the statistically at par value of plant height were in the close conformity with the findings of Utgikar et al. (2003)
observed between treatment 60:30:10 kg NPK ha-1, 60:15:20 kg in Isabgol.
NPK ha-1, 60:15:10 kg NPK ha-1, 30:30:20 kg NPK ha-1, 30:30:10
kg NPK ha-1, 30:15:20 kg NPK ha-1and 30:15:10 kg NPK ha-1. Spikes per plant: The application of nitrogen phosphorus and
The difference in plant height of Isabgol may be due to the better potash significantly affected the number of spikes plant-1 recorded
nutritional environment in the root zone as well as in the plant at 60 and 90 DAS. Application of 60:30:20 kg NPK ha-1 gave
system which enhanced meristematic activity leading to increased significantly higher number of spikes plant-1 i.e. 31.13 at 90
plant height and dry matter accumulation. These results are in DAS, which was 9.15, 21.17, 26.90 and 77.98 percent higher
close conformity with the findings of Utgikar et al. (2003), Reddy as compared to 60:30:10 kg NPK ha-1, 60:15:20 kg NPK ha-1,
(2014) and Patel et al. (2015) 30:30:20 kg NPK ha-1 and absolute control, respectively. Increase
in number of spikes may be due to the fact that NPK application
Leaves per plant : Data reveals that application of 60:30:20 kg accelerated the development of leaf number, which is positively
NPK ha-1 significantly increased the number of leaves per plant at correlated with the number of spikes. Similar results were also
30, 60 and 90 DAS. The significant maximum number of leaves reported by Utgikar et al. (2003), Waghmare et al. (2010), Narolia
plant-1 recorded at 90 DAS (36.30) in treatment application of et al. (2013), Jajoria et al. (2013) and Patel et al. (2015).
60:30:20 kg NPK ha-1 as compared to other treatments, which was
111 percent higher over absolute control. While, the number of Length of spike: An examination of data shows that treatment
leaves per plant observed due to 60:15:10 kg NPK ha-1, 30:30:20 60:30:20 kg NPK ha-1 gave significantly highest length of spike
kg NPK ha-1, 30:30:10 kg NPK ha-1 and 30:15:20 kg NPK ha-1 i.e. 3.80 cm and 5.98 cm at 60 and 90 DAS, respectively which
were statistically at par with each other. The increase in number was 52.43 and 51.97 percent higher as compared to absolute
of leaves might be due to the production of more dry matter with control, respectively. Further, it was observed that 60:15:20 kg
the application of balanced dose of nitrogen, phosphorus and NPK ha-1, 60:15:10 kg NPK ha-1, 30:30:20 kg NPK ha-1, 30:30:10
potash. The response of NPK fertilization is further supported by kg NPK ha-1, 30:15:10 kg NPK ha-1 were statistically at par with
the fact that the soil of experimental field was low in nitrogen and each other with respect to length of spike. Increase in length of
medium in phosphorus status and as a result of its early supply spikes may be due to the fact that NPK application increased
to the crop, corrected the deficiency and improved overall crop leaf number, which is positively correlated with the length of
growth considerably. These results are in close conformity with spikes. Similar results were also reported by Utgikar et al. (2003),
the findinings of Singh et al. (2000), Omidbaigi and Mohebby Waghmare et al. (2010), Narolia et al. (2013), Jajoria et al. (2013)
(2002), Wankhade et al. (2005), Ashraf et al. (2006), Chouhan and Patel et al. (2015).
et al. (2006) and Patel et al. (2015) in Isabgol.
Seeds per spike: A critical examination of data in Table 1
Tillers per plant: A perusal of data presented in Table 1 indicated showed that the application of NPK significantly affected the
that tillers per plant were significantly affected by different levels number of seeds per spike. Application of 60:30:20 kg NPK
of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash. On the basis of mean data ha-1 gave significantly higher number of seeds spike-1 (62.40)
recorded at 90 DAS, significantly higher total number of tillers which was 2.71, 3.81 and 31.64 percent higher as compared to
Table 1. Effect of different levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash on growth and yield attributes of Isabgol
Treatments Plant height Leaves Tillers Spikes Length of spike Seeds Test weight
N:P:K kg ha-1 (cm) plant-1 plant-1 plant-1 (cm) spikes-1 (g)
30:15:10 28.14 22.93 3.12 20.08 3.54 51.70 1.59
30:15:20 29.89 23.20 3.54 21.27 3.65 53.86 1.63
30:30:10 30.49 24.50 3.59 23.07 3.89 54.76 1.68
30:30:20 32.48 23.34 3.72 24.53 4.07 56.50 1.79
60:15:10 35.35 27.10 3.80 25.08 4.70 59.07 1.83
60:15:20 36.91 29.11 3.84 25.69 4.87 59.37 1.89
60:30:10 37.14 33.17 3.92 28.52 5.45 60.22 1.98
60:30:20 40.11 36.30 4.41 31.13 5.98 62.40 2.09
Control 22.57 17.20 2.74 17.49 2.90 47.40 1.44
S. Em. ± 0.95 0.81 0.12 0.84 0.17 0.27 0.02
CD at 5% 2.87 2.44 0.36 2.53 0.51 0.83 0.08

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52 Effect of levels of N P K on growth and yield of Isabgol

Table 2. Effect of different levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash on yield and economics of Isabgol
Treatments Seed yield Straw yield Biological yield Harvest Gross return Net return B:C
N:P:K kg ha-1 (q/ha) (q/ha) (q/ha) index (%) (Rs/ha) (Rs/ha) ratio
30:15:10 6.50 22.10 28.60 22.73 52000 31680 1.56
30:15:20 6.95 22.70 29.65 23.47 55600 35010 1.70
30:30:10 7.50 23.60 31.10 24.11 60000 38975 1.86
30:30:20 8.40 24.17 32.57 25.79 67200 45905 2.15
60:15:10 9.50 25.70 35.20 27.00 76000 55360 2.69
60:15:20 9.75 26.62 36.37 26.81 78000 57090 2.73
60:30:10 10.50 28.20 38.70 27.13 84000 62730 2.95
60:30:20 11.43 30.72 42.15 27.11 91440 69900 3.25
Control 5.46 19.45 24.91 21.91 43680 25230 1.37
S. Em. ± 0.24 0.84 0.99 0.70 1957 1957 0.09
CD at 5% 0.73 2.51 2.98 2.10 5867 5867 0.28

60:30:10 kg NPK ha-1, 60:15:20 kg NPK ha-1 and absolute control, 60:30:10 kg NPK ha-1, 60:15:20 kg NPK ha-1, 60:15:10 kg NPK
respectively. However, the seeds spike-1 under the treatment ha-1, 30:30:20 kg NPK ha-1, 30:30:10 kg NPK ha-1, 30:15:20 kg
60:15:20 kg NPK ha-1 and 60:15:10 kg NPK ha-1 were statistically NPK ha-1 and 30:15:10 kg NPK ha-1 was statistically at par with
at par with each other. Increase in the number of seeds per spike each other. Probably, increment in plant height, more tillers per
might be due to the fact that N P K is expected to hasten plant plant and higher dry matter accumulation due to application of
development and longer period for movement of photosynthates NPK resulted in ultimate higher straw yield of Isabgol. Similar
from source to sink. Similar results were also augmented by result was also reported by Solanki and Shaktawat (1999), Ashraf
Owla et al. (2004), Wankhede et al. (2005), Narolia et al. (2013), et al. (2006), Ahirwar et al. (2014), Kumar et al. (2015), Patel et
Ahirwar et al. (2014), Mor et al. (2014) Patel et al. (2015) and al. (2015) and Shivran (2016).
Shivran (2016) in Isabgol.
Biological yield: Data showed that biological yield of Isabgol was
Test weight: The significantly highest test weight of 2.09 g was significantly affected by different levels of nitrogen phosphorus
recorded with treatment 60:30:20 kg NPK ha-1 and the increment and potash. The highest biological yield (42.15 q ha -1) was
was 45.13 percent as compared to absolute control. The test recorded under treatment 60:30:20 kg NPK ha-1, which was 8.91,
weight due to treatment 60:15:20 kg NPK ha-1, 60:15:10 kg NPK 29.41 and 69.20 percent higher as compared to 60:30:10 kg NPK
ha-1, 30:30:20 kg NPK ha-1, 30:30:10 kg NPK ha-1, 30:15:20 kg ha-1, 30:30:20 kg NPK ha-1 and absolute control, respectively. The
NPK ha-1 and 30:15:10 kg NPK ha-1 were statistically at par biological yield was statistically at par with each other among the
with each other. NPK plays an vital role in the process of grain treatment 60:30:10 kg NPK ha-1, 60:15:20 kg NPK ha-1, 60:15:10
filling, increase in leaf area of crop result in increased dry matter kg NPK ha-1, 30:30:20 kg NPK ha-1, 30:30:10 kg NPK ha-1,
production by intercepting more sunlight. Similar results have 30:15:20 kg NPK ha-1 and 30:15:10 kg NPK ha-1. Significantly
been also reported by Patel et al. (2015) in Isabgol. higher seed and straw yield of Isabgol due to balanced dose of
Seed yield: Application of different levels of nitrogen, NPK ultimately increased the biological yield of Isabgol. Similar
phosphorus and potash significantly affected the seed yield of result was also reported by Ashraf et al. (2006), Ahirwar et al.
Isabgol. Treatment 60:30:20 kg NPK ha-1 gave significantly higher (2014), Kumar et al. (2015), Patel et al. (2015) and Shivran
seed yield (11.43 q/ha) which was 8.85, 17.23, 36.07 and 109.34 (2016) in Isabgol.
percent higher as compared to treatment 60:30:10 kg NPK ha-1, Harvest index: A perusal of data presented in Table 2 reveals that
60:15:20 kg NPK ha-1, 30:30:20 kg NPK ha-1 and absolute control, harvest index was influenced due to different levels of nitrogen,
respectively. Significant increment in seed yield of Isabgol may phosphorus and potash. The significant highest harvest index
be due to the increase in the tillers per plant, spikes per plant, (27.13 %) was recorded under treatment 60:30:10 kg NPK ha-1
seeds per spike, test weight with the fact that N P K is expected but it was statistically at par with 60:30:20 kg NPK ha-1, 60:15:20
to hasten plant development and longer period for movement of kg NPK ha-1, 60:15:10 kg NPK ha-1 and 30:30:20 kg NPK ha-1,
photosynthates from source to sink. Ultimately, these characters respectively.
had beneficial effect on higher seed yield. Similar result was also
reported by Ashraf et al. (2006), Ahirwar et al. (2014), Kumar et Economics: The maximum gross return (Rs. 91440 ha-1), net
al. (2015), Patel et al. (2015) and Shivran (2016). return (Rs. 69900 ha-1) and B:C ratio (3.25:1) was recorded in the
treatment 60:30:20 kg NPK ha-1. While, minimum gross return
Straw yield: The data presented in Table 2 reveals that the (Rs 43680 ha-1), net return (Rs 25230 ha-1) and B: C ratio (1.37:1)
application of nitrogen phosphorus and potash significantly was registered in absolute control.
affected the straw yield of Isabgol. Treatment 60:30:20 kg
NPK ha-1 gave significantly higher straw yield (30.72 q/ha) The study revealed that different levels of nitrogen, phosphorus,
which was 8.93, 27.09 and 57.94 percent higher as compared and potassium influenced growth and yield of Isabgol. The
to 60:30:10 kg NPK ha-1, 30:30:20 kg NPK ha-1 and absolute application of 60:30:20 kg NPK ha-1 resulted in significantly
control, respectively. The straw yield of Isabgol due to treatment higher values of growth, yield attributes, and economics.
Journal of Applied Horticulture (www.horticultureresearch.net)
 Effect of levels of N P K on growth and yield of Isabgol 53

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