Growth and yield of greengram (Vigna radiata) under foliar application of panchgavya and leaf extracts of endemic plants

An experiment was conducted during the rainy (kharif) season of 2011, under irrigated condition, at Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh to study the effect of foliar applied panchgavya with and without mixing leaf extracts of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) and parthenium (Parthenium hysterophorus L.) in 1:1 ratio on the growth, yield and economics of greengram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek]. Foliar application of panchgavya + neem-leaf extracts (NLE) significantly increased dry-matter accumulation, physiological growth and yield attributes as well as yield of greengram compared to water-sprayed control and sole application of panchgavya. Application of panchgavya + NLE recorded higher grain (27.7 and 10.5%) and straw yield (14.4 and 10.3%) as well as net returns (36.3 and 16%) compared with the control and sole panchgavya respectively. Application of the foliar sources at 3 times (branching, pre-flowering and pod-setting stages) recorded significantly higher dry matter, growth and yield attributes, yield and net return over single or in combination of two or four.