Rishubh Motla, Mukesh Kumar, Manoj Kumar Yadav, Sunil Malik, L.K. Gangwar, B.P. Dhyani and Mahima Sharma
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of integrated nutrient management (INM) combining reduced chemical fertilizers (RDF), vermicompost (VC), and natural stimulants (coconut water or Moringa oleifera extracts) on plant growth, reproductive traits across 18 treatments (T1-T18). Parameters included plant height, leaf number and size, sprouting, spike and floret emergence, flower number and diameter, rachis and spike length, flower longevity. T10 (50% RDF + 50% VC + 25% coconut water) consistently outperformed others, followed by T15 (50% RDF + 50% VC + Moringa 4 g/l) and T18 (50% RDF + 50% VC + Moringa 10 g/l), achieving superior vegetative growth, reproductive development. The control (T1) and 100% RDF NPK (T2) showed the lowest performance. INM with natural stimulants proved effective in enhancing crop productivity, suggesting a sustainable approach for agricultural improvement. Further research on optimal stimulant concentrations and long-term impacts is recommended.