Response of Chandrasur ( Lepidium Sativum L . ) to Sowing Durations and Stand Geometries

Chandrasur (Lepidium sativum L.) popularly known as Garden cress, is one of the medicinal plants belonging to Cruciferae family. It is antiscorbutic, depurative and stimulant. The seeds of Chandrasur are mainly used in preparation of medicines but roots and leaves also have the therapeutic values. Mucilage present in the seed coat is used to irritation of the mucous membrane of intestine in diarrhea and dysentery [1]. Chandrasur is also used against insect-bite and as an insect-repellent in the form of fumigant [2]. It is useful as traditional tonic to increase height of children and also increase the milk production in women and for curing chronic bronchial asthma [3]. About 960 species of medicinal plants are estimated to be in all India trade of which 178 species have annual consumption level in excess of 100 metric tonnes [4]. In India, Chandrasur cultivation is spread in patches across the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra in an area of about 8450 hectares. In Rajasthan, its cultivation is concentrated in tank beds without supplemental irrigation. The traditional method of sowing is to broadcast the seeds after the water has receded in post rainy season. It has low water requirement, not grazed by animals and is not attacked by insect pests. Its cultivation is highly remunerative. However, the quantum of research generated under AICRP on M&AP is very thin. There is an urgent need to develop agronomical practices such as sowing time, plant geometry etc. for obtaining good yield and to provide information to farmers for its production technology. Sowing time is the most important non-monetary practice affecting growth and yield of a crop. It is well known fact that the yields obtained from late sown crop is always lower than optimum sown. Late-sown crop also shorten the crop maturity. Both early and late sowing of this crop results in lower yields. It is, therefore, necessary to Abstract A field experiment was conducted during winter season of 2011-12 and 201213 at Udaipur, Rajasthan, to investigate the effect of different sowing durations and stand geometries on phenology, productivity and nutrient content and uptake of chandrasur (Lepidium sativum L.). Results revealed that sowing during 41 and 43 SMW being at par with each other took significantly less number of days to emergence compared to delayed sowing i.e. 45 and 47 SMW. However, crop sown during 43 SMW took significantly highest number of days to 50 per cent flowering (60.33) and days to 50 per cent pods formation (84.72). Moreover, the sowing of crop during 41 and 43 SMW remained at par but both these took significantly higher number of days for maturity (122.92) over 45 and 47 SMW. Likewise, significantly highest seed yield (2.25 t/ha), straw yield (8.79 t/ha), biological yield (11.04 t/ha) and total N (98.45 kg/ha) and P uptake (24.37 kg/ha) were recorded when crop was sown during 43 SMW. The highest net returns (INR 75.1 x 10 3 /ha) and benefit-cost ratio (4.49) were also recorded with 43 SMW. Stand geometries did not influence significantly with respect to phenological characters of chandrasur crop. However, stand geometries at 30 cm x 10 cm resulted in significantly highest seed yield (2.07 t/ha) straw yield (8.34 t/ha). Likewise, significantly highest N content of seed (1.70%), and total N uptake (91.10 kg/ha) and P uptake (22.67 kg/ha), net returns (INR 68.0 x 10 3 /ha) and benefit-cost ratio (4.06) were recorded when chandrasur sown at 30 cm x 10 cm stand geometry.