Inoculation with effective microbial consortia can reduce half the fertilizer application for Andrographis paniculata (kalmegh) under field condition

Based on the resul ts of an earl ier microplot study, a f ield experiment was conducted with the medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata Nees. (Kalmegh) inoculated with microbial consortia and given different levels of ferti lizer. Inoculation with microbial consortia resulted in increased height, branches, biomass, yield, nutrient uptake and andrographolide concentration compared to uninoculated control. The microbial consortia with 50% nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium proved to be best treatment in all the parameters studied. Thus by inoculation of the developed microbial consortia the recommended dose of ferti lizer can be reduced by half for cultivating Kalmegh.