Adharsika Pradhan, Sujata Upadhyay, Rajesh Kumar and Laxuman Sharma
Abstract
The present investigation was carried out at the Dept. of Horticulture, Sikkim University, Gangtok during 2021-2022 with an objective to observe the effect of different media compositions in culantro (Eryngium foetidum) under pot cultivation in Sikkim. Although cultivation of culantro has plentiful returns, commercial cultivation on a large scale is limited in Sikkim, therefore an effort was made to evaluate pot cultivation of culantro under different media combinations. The experiment was conducted in CRD with 14 treatments, i.e. media combinations of cocopeat, vermiculite, vermicompost, organic manure along with soil as potting media. Maximum growth parameters such as plant height (18.6 cm), leaf area (40.6 cm2) and fresh weight (10.4 g) were observed highest in potting media of treatment T5[Soil + Farm Yard Manure + Vermicompost (1:1:1)]. Highest number of leaves (12.0 per plant) was recorded from potting media of Soil + Cocopeat (1:1). Further, utmost flower stalk length (11.1 cm) and diameter (55 mm) was recorded from media combination Soil + FYM (1:1). The outcome of media compositions has observed considerable water holding capacity, aeration and supplementary uptake of nutrients ensuring higher vegetative growth. The shrink wrapping of culantro leaves for storage under the refrigerated condition of 7±20C and R.H.90â95% was observed to extend the shelf of culantro leaves up to 25 days without deterioration in the quality of leaves. The organoleptic scoring of culantro chutney prepared from culantro leaves after 25 days of storage (shrink wrapped, 7±2 0C, 90% R.H.) on Hedonic 9-point scale was acceptable in terms of color, flavor, texture, appearance, taste and aroma for all 14 treatments including control (non-packed, non-refrigerated).