Abstract

Investigations were carried out at the Horticultural College and Research Institute to study the effect of spacing and bio-stimulants on the plant nutrient uptake ofSolanum nigrum. The experiments were laid out in split plot design with three replications. The treatments consisted of four levels of spacing  (M₁ – 30 × 30 cm, M₂ – 45 × 45 cm, M₃ – 60 × 30 cm and M₄ – 60 × 45 cm) and nine bio-stimulants/organics (S₁– Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), S₂ – control_, S₃ – panchagavya 2%, S₄ – panchagavya 3%, S₅ – moringa leaf extract 2%, S₆ – moringa leaf extract 4%, S₇ – humic acid, S₈ – cytozyme 1% and S₉ – vermicompost). Observations on nutrient uptake found that, the treatment closer spacing + RDF (M₁S₁) registered higher nitrogen uptake (223.83 kg ha^-1) and phosphorous uptake (22.02 kg ha^-1) followed by closer spacing + panchagavya 3% spray (M₁S₄) (202.64 kg ha^-1) (Nitrogen uptake - 202.64 kg ha^-1 and Phosphorous uptake -20.03 kg ha^-1). Regarding the potassium uptake the treatment wider spacing + RDF (M₄S₁) combination recorded the highest K uptake (252.83 kg ha^‑1)  followed by the treatment wider spacing + humic acid combination (M₄S₇) (227.14 kg ha^-1).

Key words: Solanum nigrum, spacing, organics, plant nutrient uptake.