Light intensity and market waste compost effects on the growth performance of andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) wall. ex nees planted in polybag and field / Hendrynus Gundadon

In the modern world today, the demand for traditional herbs which are free from agrochemicals as medicines is high. This study focused on evaluating the growth, yield and active compound of Andrographis paniculata (hempedu bumi), which is well known as a traditional herb and commonly used by the village folk to treat various diseases. A total of two experiments were carried out, each was based on a split plot design. The first experiment was on the crop production using polybags in the greenhouse while the second one was repeated as a field experiment. Seedlings of six to seven weeks from seed sowing were transplanted to the poly bags or field beds for experimentations. In each experiment, 100% relative light intensity (RLI) and 50% RLI achieved with commercial 50% shade netting were assigned as the main plots and fertilization treatments were the sub plots within each RLI plot. Compost prepared from market wastes of fresh fish refuse of gills and internal organs, dumped or rotting brassica vegetables and expired or dumped bread was tested on the plants at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 g per plant, and compared with 5 g of NPK green per plant. Each treatment was replicated five and four times for polybag and field experiments, respectively. Planting distance between plants was 30 cm. Plants were harvested at eight and twelve weeks after transplanting (8 WAT and 12 WAT), respectively. Results showed that the plants grown at 100% RLI had better branching, leaf development, stem diameter, biomass and leaf andrographolide content while plant height, leaf area, chlorophyll and carotenoid content were significantly higher in the plants raised under 50% RLI in both polybag and field experiments at 8 WAT and 12 WAT. In combination with 100% RLI, application of 100 g market waste compost was generally the best for enhancing the growth, biomass and active compound in this medicinal herb, even compared with nitrophoska green (15:15:15). Plants were recommended to be harvested at 12 WAT when flowering had just started. Field cultivation of this medicinal plant was better in terms of yield and andrographolide content in comparison with polybag plants. This study also showed that it was viable in terms of biomass and active compound content to cultivate A. paniculata without inorganic fertilization. It is hoped that this research work can also contribute to greater height in organic farming, especially in medicinal plant production.