Studies on performance of bhendi under"Vrkshayurvedic farming"

An investigation was carried out at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai to study the effect of green leaf manures and tree leaf extracts on the growth, yield, quality of bhendi.The experiment was laid out in split plot design with four different green leaf manures in main plots and five different green leaf extracts in the form of seed soaking and two foliar sprays in sub plots with three replications.The results indicated that there were significant differences in the growth and yield parameters due to the application of green leaf manure and foliar sprays of tree leaf extracts.Albizia lebbeck as green leaf manure with seed soaking and foliar sprays of Annona squamosa registered higher values of growth, physiological and yield traits and uptake of N, P and K.The same treatment combination recorded the lowest crude fibre, highest ascorbic acid and crude protein content of the fruit and reduced incidence of pest and diseases with higher returns.