GROWTH, ANTIOXIDANT AND NPK CONTENT ANALYSIS OF COMPOST, BIOFERTILIZERS TREATED MEDICINAL PLANT, ALTERNANTHERA SESSILISSHUBHA, K.Y. PRATIBHA AND A.C. MANJULAAbstract Alternanthera sessilis belonging to Amaranthaceae is used as a green vegetable and medicine to eye problems in South India and hence the study was focused on the qualitative and quantitative improvement of growth, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium content and antioxidant properties of the plant using biofertilizers and composts. 30 days old fifteen inches stem cuttings were treated with Azospirillum (T1)- a free living nitrogen fixer, Bacillus megaterium (T2) - a phosphate solubiliser, Vermicompost (T3), Farm Yard Manure (FYM) (T4) and a consortium of all (T5) and compared with untreated control (C). The experiment was conducted in randomized replicate block design with 10 replicates for each treatment. At 90 days, biomass, NPK content, enzymic antioxidants like catalase and peroxidase and non-enzymic antioxidants like total carotenoids, ascorbic acid and total phenols were analysed. Statistically significant increase in the biomass and NPK content was recorded in T4 treated plants compared to other treatments and control (C). Carotenoids, ascorbic acid content, catalase activity was also maximum in T4 treated plants whereas T5 treated plants recorded maximum total phenolic content and peroxidase activity. Hence, FYM is the best manure for cultivating Alternanthera sessilis which can enhance qualitative and quantitative properties of the plant.
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