Response of Catharanthus roseusl to organic and inorganic fertilization

A field experiment was conducted with periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus L.) as a test crop to study the influence of different organic sources viz., Farmyard manure, composted farm wastes, composted coir wastes and vermicompost with inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield of periwinkle. Application of different organic sources and inorganic fertilizers had conspicuously increased the growth and yield of periwinkle over control. The results showed that combined application of recommended dose of inorganic fertilizers (100:50:50 kg NPK ha⁻¹) and vermicompost @ 5 t ha⁻¹ was found to increase the plant height, number of branches per plant, shoot length and root length of periwinkle. The increase in dry weight of leaves, stems and roots were 30.8, 22.6 and 35.8 per cent, respectively with combined application of inorganic fertilizer and vermicompost addition @ 5 t ha⁻¹ compared with the application of inorganic fertilizers alone, implying the synergistic effects of combined application of chemical fertilizers and organic manures in periwinkle production.