Integrating Nutrient Management with Conservation Agriculture Practices for Mint Crop Production

Aim: This study investigated how reduced tillage practices with varying levels of fertilizer application influenced the growth, yield and essential oil production of Mentha arvensis within an arecanut + carrot (rabi) – mint (pre-kharif) cropping sequence.

Study Design: Randomized block experimental design with four treatments and each replicated five times. Treatment details are T1 -100:60:60 NPK kg ha, T2: 75:45:45 NPK kg ha-1 T3: 50:30:30 NPK kg ha-1, T4: Control

Place and Duration of Study: The investigation was conducted at the Balindi Research Farm, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, West Bengal in 2019-20 and 2020-21 cropping season.

Methodology: The study examined the effects of three fertilizer levels each replicated five times on vegetative parameters like plant height, leaf number, branching, and spread during the crop's growth stages and oil yield.

Results: Higher fertilizer levels significantly enhanced vegetative growth and yield parameters. Plant height at 30, 60 and 90 days after planting (DAP) increased to 26.44 cm, 32.9 cm, and 56.68 cm respectively, with the highest fertilizer dose (T1 -100:60:60 NPK kg ha-1). Similarly number of leaves per plant also saw an increase to 178, 194, and 219 at the corresponding time points. Additionally plant spread expanded to 20.99 cm, 28.93 cm, and 47.64 cm, and the number of primary branches increased to 6.62, 6.81, and 18.29 at 30, 60, and 90 DAP, respectively. The number of secondary branches also demonstrated growth reaching 3.52 at 60 DAP and 4.20 at 90 DAP. The overall projected herb yield and oil yield at the end of the study was found to be 22.21 tons per hectare (t ha-1) and 254.95 litres ha-1 was recorded under T1 (100:60:60 NPK kg ha-1)

Conclusion: These findings show that implementing conservation agriculture principles, including reduced tillage, crop diversification and supplying balanced nutrient levels to crop significantly enhanced crop performance and maintains soil health promoting sustainable agricultural production.