Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore-641 003, India.
Influence of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers on dry matter production and L-DOPA (L – 3, 4 dihydroxy phenylalanine) content of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. was studied with an experiment conducted during 2002–2003 The treatments consisted of main plots with two stages of harvest viz., harvest after 40 days of anthesis (green pods) and harvest after 60 days of anthesis (dry pods) and sub plot treatments with combinations of inorganic fertilizers (urea, super phosphate and muriate of potash) and organic manures (cocopeat and farmyard manure). The integrated nutrient combination involving organic form of manures (cocopeat @ 5 t/ha + farmyard manure @ 12.5 t/ha) and inorganic fertilizers (NPK 40:30:30 kg/ha) and harvesting at dry pod stage showed a greater degree of positive influence on dry matter production (156.94 g plant−1). The highest amount of L-DOPA (7.43 per cent) was recorded in the treatment combination cocopeat @5 t/ha + farmyard manure @ 12.5 t/ha + NPK 40:30:30 kg/ha and harvesting at green pod stage.
