Effect of nitrogen management through urea and vermicompost on growth and leaf yield of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri L.) var. CIM-Jagriti

Introduction

Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) is a well-known medicinal plant widely used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for its adaptogenic, and therapeutic properties. It is a creeping herb that thrives in wet, tropical regions, and is characterized by small, succulent leaves and white or light purple flowers. Brahmi has been studied for its potential to improve memory, learning, and mental clarity, making it a popular nootropic. The active compounds, primarily bacosides, are believed to support neurotransmitter function, reduce oxidative stress, and promote neuroprotection. In addition to its cognitive benefits. Brahmi has been used to treat anxiety, stress, epilepsy, and various skin conditions due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. Modern scientific research has corroborated many of Brahmi's traditional uses, demonstrating its potential to improve memory, enhance learning, reduce anxiety, and alleviate symptoms of neurological disorders. It is also valued for its adaptogenic properties, helping the body manage stress and maintain overall mental clarity. Recent pharmacological studies also suggest its role in supporting cardiovascular health and improving overall wellbeing. Despite promising therapeutic effects, further clinical trials are needed to fully establish the safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of action of Brahmi in modern medicine. This plant represents a promising candidate for further research in both traditional and integrative health systems. Over centuries, Brahmi has been used to treat a variety of ailments, ranging from cognitive disorders like dementia and Alzheimer's to stress, anxiety, and epilepsy. This versatile plant is believed to work as a powerful adaptogen, balancing the body's stress response and helping to restore mental and physical equilibrium. The active compounds responsible for Brahmi's therapeutic effects are primarily bacosides-saponin glycosides that support brain function by promoting the regeneration of neurons and improving neurotransmission. Modern research has increasingly focused on these bioactive compounds, which exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. In addition, it was also reported to possess anti inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, sedative, free radical scavengering and anti-lipid peroxidative activities. Nitrogen is an essential macronutrient for plants, playing a crucial role in their growth and development and it appears to have the most rapid and apparent effect on plants. One of its primary roles is promoting vegetative growth, giving plants their lush green color. Plants absorb nitrogen mainly in the form of nitrates (NO₃⁻) and ammonium (NH₄⁺) from the soil, which is often supplemented through fertilizers like urea and ammonium sulfate. Vermicompost a rich organic amendment also helps to improve soil structure, microbial activity, and slow-release nutrient availability, leading to sustainable growth and yield improvement. Benefits of Integrated Nutrient Management (Urea + Vermicompost + P-K) enhances nutrient-use efficiency by reducing nitrogen loss and improving soil retention of phosphorus and potassium, promotes sustained plant growth, balancing fast-acting inorganic fertilizers with the slow-release benefits of vermicompost, improves soil structure and microbial diversity, leading to better nutrient availability and long-term fertility, increases leaf yield and quality, ensuring higher biomass production and better value.

Treatment Combination

T₀: Control, T₁: Vermicompost @ 2.5t/ha, T₂: Vermicompost @ 5.0t/ha, T₃: Vermicompost @ 7.5t/ha, T₄: Vermicompost @ 10t/ha, T₅: 50% N through Urea + Full PK, T₆: 50% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 2.5t/ha +Full PK T₇: 50% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 5.0t/ha +Full PK, T₈: 50% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 7.5t/ha +Full PK, T₉: 50% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 10t/ha +Full PK, T₁₀: 100% N through Urea + Full PK, T₁₁: 100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 2.5t/ha + Full PK, T₁₂: 100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 5.0t/ha +Full PK, T₁₃: 100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 7.5t/ha +Full PK, T₁₄: 100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 10t/ha +Full PK.

Materials and Methods

The experiment "Effect of Nitrogen management through Urea and Vermicompost on growth and leaf of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri L.) Var. CIM-Jagriti" was conducted in the Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Prayagraj. The area of Prayagraj district comes under agro climatic zone V (Upper Gangetic Plain region) and sub-zone of Central Plains. The climate ranges from dry sub-humid to semi-arid and the soil is alluvium calcareous sandy loam. The district experiences average maximum temperature ranges between 43°-47 °C which may go as high as 48 °C during peak summers (May-June). The minimum average temperature is 2-4 °C, which may fall as low as 1 °C during peak winter months (December-January). The average rainfall of the district is 960 mm and the monsoon season is spread between July-September. As per experimental recommendations, the fertilizers nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, and vermicompost were weighed and applied in the field by mixing thoroughly with soil. The experimental soil was sandy loam in texture. Brahmi cuttings of 5-6 cm were planted at 4-5 cm deep with a spacing of 20 cm between rows and 10 cm within plants. The experimental field was well prepared by ploughing with a tractor. The field was leveled, and stubbles and weeds were picked up from the field manually. In order to keep the field free from weeds and to ensure soil moisture, several hand weeding was done at intervals to maintain the optimum population of the plant. A. Soil Sampling: The soil sample was collected from different places of the experimental field from the surface to 12-15 cm depth. These soil samples were mixed together, air dried, powdered and thoroughly mixed. A representative soil sample of five gram for each and every analysis was drawn and subjected to mechanical and chemical analysis.

B. Physio-Chemical properties of the soil:

The experimental site was a fairly levelled land with sandy loam soils of uniform fertility status with low clay and high sand percentage. The soil sample were collected at random spots from depth of 0-30 cm. and the soil was analysed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium at Allahabad and are presented in Table 1 and 2. A.

C. Statistical Analysis:

The data recorded during the course of the investigation was subjected to statistical analysis by RBD (Randomized Block Design), an experimental design where the experimental units are in groups called blocks. This kind of design is used to minimize the effects of systematic error. The data recorded during the course of the investigation will be subjected to statistical analysis by the analysis of variance (ANOVA) technique. The significance and non-significance of treatment effect were judged with the help of the 'F' (variance ratio) (Fisher 1960). The significant difference between the means was tested against the critical difference at the 5% level for testing the hypothesis.

Results and Discussion

All the growth attributing characters were studied viz., Plant Height (cm), Leaf length (cm), No. of leaves, Leaf Width (cm), Root length (cm), No. of nodes and Length of Internode, Fresh Weight of shoots, Dry Weight of shoots and Dry weight recovery (%) were recorded at 90 days after planting (DAP).

The results obtained are discussed in light of previous researchers and the results obtained of the various above mentioned characters are as given in Table 3 and4.

Plant height (cm): A significant difference was observed in the plant height as affected by different treatments among which T 14 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 10t/ha +Full PK] remained significantly highest (35.50 cm) and was at par with T 13 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 7.5t/ha +Full PK] while all the other treatments were significantly lower. The lowest plant height (21.10 cm) was observed in T₀ [Control] which was 40.56% lower than treatment T 14 which had the highest Urea and vermicompost. Urea and vermicompost manure showed better results over the lower doses of Urea and vermicompost as it enhanced the water holding capacity of the soil which is a major requirement for brahmi as it is an aquatic herb. Vermicompost manure also acts as chelating agent hence ensuring nutrient availability throughout the crop growing period. Supportive evidence was given by a research of G.R Smitha et al. (2021) [15] .

The leaf length (cm) were significantly higher in treatment T 14 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 10t/ha +Full PK] (2.40 cm) which is at par with treatment T 13 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 7.5t/ha +Full PK] (2.34 cm) and the rest of the treatment while the minimum leaf length was found in T 0 [Control] (1.90 cm). Application of cow dung compost helped brahmi to produce better branching and faster elongation of prostrate branches, confirming the findings of Shirole et al. (2005) [26] and Baruah et al. (2014) [6] .

Number of leaves:

It is evident that treatment T 14 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 10t/ha +Full PK] 371.91 showed the highest results at all the crop growth stages followed by T 13 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 7.5t/ha +Full PK] 348.11. It was also observed that T 12 and T 11 were at par during most of the crop stages for different growth attributes while the minimum number of leaves was found in T₁ [Control] 227.71. The low dose of Urea and vermicompost showed less growth attributes in all the growth stages.Increased dose of Urea and vermicompost resulted in more crop growth including the enhanced leaf length, No. of leafs and leaves per m 2 . It can be attributed to the fact that Urea and vermicompost when applied in the soil helps to accelerate the microbial population that in turn helps to mineralize the organic stock of nitrogen in the soil. The mineralized nutrient gains mobility in the soil system and enters the plant to build the framework of plant system. Increasing parameters like length of leafs, No. of leafs and no. of leaves due to enhanced nutrient uptake have a direct effect on the crop yield. The same has been corroborated by Mathur et al.

(2000) [17] and Tiwari et al. (2000) [19] .

The treatment T 14 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 10t/ha +Full PK + Full PK] gave the highest leaf width (cm) (1.01 cm) which was significantly higher than the rest of the treatments. The second highest fresh leaf width (cm) was recorded in T 13 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 7.5t/ha +Full PK] (0.99 cm) which was at par with T 12 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 5.0t/ha +Full PK] (0.97 cm) and T 11 [100% N through Urea (0.94 cm). Treatment T 0 i.e., control also showed low results of leaf width (cm) (0.51 cm) as compared to the lower doses of Urea and vermicompost and they were at par with other treatments viz, T 1 [Vermicompost @ 2.5t/ha] (0.53 cm) and T 2 [Vermicompost @ 5.0t/ha] (0.55 cm). The variation in leaf length may be due to the effect of urea and vermicompost combined. The similar results were also reported by Maneeply et al. (2018) [18] in Bacopa monnieri and Aliniaeifard et al. (2010) [3] in lemon verbena.

The treatment T 14 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 10t/ha +Full PK + Full PK] produced highest Root length (cm) (3.55 cm) in all the crop growth stages followed by T 13 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 7.5t/ha +Full PK] (3.47 cm) which was at par with treatment T 12 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 5.0t/ha +Full PK] 3.39 (cm). Treatment comprising of control T 0 [Control] was at par with T 1 [Vermicompost @ 2.5t/ha (1.76 cm), T 2 [Vermicompost @ 5.0 t/ha] (1.84 cm) and T 3 (2 cm) had the lowest root length. Hence, an increased Urea and vermicompost application rate was positively correlated with the recorded increase in root length (cm) of the crop. Urea and vermicompost prepared from cow dung has the ability to direct the cosmic flow of energy that can revitalize the growth process Sundararaman et al., (2001) [27] and Niranjan (2002) [22] . Similar findings were reported by Anjana Devkota et al. (2018) [4] . [4] in Centella asiatica.

It showed that treatment T 14 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 10t/ha +Full PK + Full PK] gave the highest length of internodes (cm) (1.83 cm) which was significantly higher than the rest of the treatments. The second highest length of internode was recorded in T 13 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 7.5t/ha +Full PK] (1.74 cm) which was at par with T 12 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 5.0t/ha +Full PK] (1.67 cm) and T 11 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 2.5t/ha +Full PK] (1.63 cm). Treatment T 0 i.e., control also showed low results of length of internodes (0.59 cm) as compared to the lower doses of Urea and vermicompost and they were at par with other treatments viz, T 1 [Vermicompost @ 2.5t/ha] (0.99 cm) and T 2 [Vermicompost @ 5.0 t/ha] (1.01 cm). Nitrogen which is an important cell constituent and a metabolically active compound helps in enzyme activation and energy transformation. It also enhances dark green colour, quality, quantity and succulency of the crop.

Fresh weight (g/plant): Fresh weight taken at observations recorded at harvest showed significant yield advantage of treatment T 14 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 10t/ha +Full PK + Full PK] (69.70 g) over lower doses of Urea and vermicompost (T 13 to T 0 ). Control treatment was found lowest value found (66.30) with other treatment which showed inorganic and organic treatment showed the same results as natural treatment but the economics involved in the former is higher hence making the later advantageous. Application of N and Vermicompost plays a positive role in mineralization and maintains soil health which leads to vigorous growth of Brahmi. Similar results were also reported by Bandyopadhyay et al.

Dry weight (g/plant): Dry weight taken at observations recorded at harvest showed significant yield advantage of treatment T 14 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 10t/ha +Full PK + Full PK] (15.41 g) over other doses of Urea and vermicompost (T 13 to T 0 ). Control treatment was found lowest value of (9.31g) with other treatment which showed inorganic and organic treatment showed the same results as natural treatment but the economics involved in the former is higher hence making the later advantageous. Similar findings were also reported by Kumawat et al (2010) and Sharma etal (2010). Similarly, Kumar et al. (2016) [16] obtained the highest dry herbage yield (5.73

Conclusion

Brahmi is considered as one of the oldest traditional medicinal crop and is also referred to as brain tonic. It contains several vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids and useful to treat various cardiovascular diseases and cognitive function as well as enhancing memory. In this research it is concluded that the maximum plant height, leaf length, number of leaves, leaf width, root length, number of nodes, length of internodes, fresh weight, dry weight, and dry recovery % was found significantly highest in T 14 [100% N through urea + vermicompost @ 10 t/ha + full PK] and was at par with T 13 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 7.5t/ha +Full PK]. The treatment combination T 14 [100% N through urea + vermicompost @ 10 t/h + full PK] and T 13 [100% N through Urea + Vermicompost @ 7.5t/ha +Full PK] can be taken for cultivating Brahmi as it aids a better income of the farmers of the Prayagraj region (U.P.) to increase production and sustainable agriculture by boosting the productivity of medicinal herb.

Acknowledgement

AcknowledgementsMere words cannot express the sense of my indebtedness to my respected advisor, Dr. Vijay Bahadur, for his guidance, support, and expertise. His valuable suggestions, innovative ideas, and meticulous nature helped me in the execution of my investigation and degree. I am grateful for the support of Dr. V.P Sahi, Dr. Urfi Fatmi and Dr. Ram Bharose including all the faculty members and friends of Department of Horticulture, Naini, Prayagraj, 211007, Uttar Pradesh, India, for providing all the necessary facilities to undertake my research programme.

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