Effect of ploughing depth on the growth and yield ofHeracleum candicans: a threatened medicinal herb and a less-explored potential crop of the Himalayan region

Abstract

This paper examines the effect of ploughing depths (A — 60 cm, B — 45 cm and C — 30 cm) on the growth and yield ofHeracleum candicans Wall (Apiaceae), a threatened medicinal herb of the Himalayan region. This less-explored plant is being suggested as a potential crop for the mountain agriculture. The study was carried out in an orchard in Himachal Pradesh, India at 2500 m altitude, for two successive growth years. During the first year, all plants remained in juvenile state; in the second year, nearly 65 % plants produced flowers only under 60 cm ploughing depth. Among its morphological traits, plant height, collar diameter and aboveground fresh weight were found to be strongly correlated (P<0.01) with the belowground biomass during the first year (r=0.968, 0.925 and 0.973, respectively) and during the second year (r=0.945, 0.928 and 0.775, respectively). Increase in the ploughing depth was significantly correlated (P<0.01) with all growth parameters, including the belowground dry weight, marketable portion of the produce. The belowground biomass (commercial yield; 16.28 Qt/hec) at depth A was about 2.6 and 4.7 times higher than those recorded at depths B and C, respectively. The results clearly justify the importance of deep ploughing and this paper strongly recommends it for economically sustainable cropping.