ENHANCEMENT OF PEA PRODUCTION USING LEAF EXTRACT OF WITHANIA SOMNIFERA L. UNDER SUB-TROPICAL FIELD CONDITIONS OF KULLU,NORTHWESTERN HIMALAYA,INDIA

The present study investigates the promoting effects of leaf extract of Withania somnifera L plant on growth, biomass, and yield of Pisum sativum L plants. The growth and biomass of pea plants increased significantly over control due to leaf extract (LE-WS) treatment. Pea plants treated with LE-WS and ascorbic acid (L-AA) showed higher number as well as total dry weight of nodules over the control. The economic yield of pea plants due to LE-WS and L-AA treatments increased by 84 and 114%, respectively over control. The economic yield was significantly correlated with number of nodules (R² = 0.75, P <0.001). The study suggests that LE-WS may be used to promote the growth and increase the production of pea plants in areas having multiple stresses. Detailed study on the use of extracts of medicinal plants as a tool to reduce the adverse effects of single stress is further required.