Standardization of Cultivation Practices of Kod (Kutaki, Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth.): An Endangered Medicinal Plant Species of Kashmir Himalaya, India

Abstract

Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth (Scrophulariaceae) is a small creeping herbaceous alpine species commonly known as Kod or Kutaki, used by local and tribal people for curing fever, asthma, jaundice, stomach ache, indigestion, common fever and bronchial asthma. This has resulted in the loss of biodiversity of the species. Roots of P. kurroa have been used in traditional medicine for years for treating various kinds of diseases. The species has been ruthlessly harvested from the wild source and has become endangered. In the present investigation, an attempt was made to standardize the cultivation practices using organic manures and inorganic fertilizers in P. kurroa. The experiment comprised of 28 treatments {M1P0N0, M1P0N1, M1P0N2, M1P1N0, M1P1N1, M1P1N2, M1P2N0, M1P2N1, M1P2N2, M2P0N0, M2P0N1, M2P0N2, M2P1N0, M2P1N1, M2P1N2, M2P2N0, M2P2N1, M2P2N2, M3P0N0, M3P0N1, M3P0N2, M3P1N0, M3P1N1, M3P1N2, M3P2N0, M3P2N1, M3P2N2 and M0P0N0} with three replications each, including one control treatment. The dry root weight recorded by the application of poultry (20 tonnes ha-1), sheep (25 tonnes ha-1) and farm yard manure (25 tonnes ha-1), was 533.60, 509.60 and 476.70 kg ha-1, respectively. Dry root yield increased significantly with increasing levels of phosphorus (453.6 to 550.4 kg ha-1), and nitrogen (444.8 to 565.6 kg ha-1)   as well. Application of organic manure and higher levels of inorganic fertilizers resulted in increase in the root weight with maximum dry root biomass of 640.00 kg ha-1 was observed in treatment M1 P2 N2 (20 tonnes of PM, 100 kg P and 150 Kg N ha-1) compared to the lowest dry yield of 328.0 kg ha-1 as observed in control treatment M0P0N0  (zero tonnes of FYM, 0 kg P and 0 kg N ha-1), although the effect of their interaction was non-significant. It is concluded that highest dry weight of root (692.80 kg ha-1) in P. kurroa was obtained by the application of phosphorus @ 100 kg ha-1 as compared to various organic manures or/different levels of nitrogen used and among the organic manures used viz. poultry, sheep and farmyard manure, the highest root biomass of   533.60 kg ha-1 was recorded by the application of poultry manure. Since the species in Kashmir Himalayan region is endangered but has high commercial demand, hence immediate conservation measures are needed to protect the species from extinction.