Citation :

Lalit Kishor Bagara, Pankaj Kumar Jain, Prama Esther Soloman, "Influence of Azadirachta indica and Tagetes erecta-Based Organic Amendments on Crop Growth," International Journal of Agriculture & Environmental Science, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 1-8, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23942568/IJAES-V13I4P101

Abstract

Excessive dependence on inorganic fertilizers in vegetable cultivation has raised serious issues such as soil degradation, declining microbial activity, and long-term sustainability. This study examined the potential of neem seed cake (Azadirachta indica) and marigold (Tagetes erecta) whole-plant powder, applied singly and in combination, as organic soil amendments to enhance the growth, flowering, and physiological performance of Solanum melongena L. (brinjal). The experimental layout followed a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatment levels: untreated control (T0), recommended NPK fertilizer (T1), marigold powder (T2), neem seed cake (T3), and a combined marigold–neem amendment (T4). Measurements of vegetative growth, flowering characteristics, relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate and fruiting were performed following standard protocols. The NPK treatment produced the greatest improvement across most measured traits, recording the maximum plant height (84.7 cm), biomass (91.6 g plant⁻¹), chlorophyll content (2.92 mg g⁻¹ FW), and net photosynthetic rate (19.6 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹). Among the organic treatments, the combined marigold–neem amendment consistently outperformed the individual amendments, producing plant growth, flowering performance, chlorophyll accumulation, and photosynthetic activity that closely approached those obtained with inorganic fertilization. The study revealed that integration of marigold biomass and neem seed cake can be a sustainable alternative to synthetic fertilizers, contributing effectively to plant growth and soil health.

Keywords

Azadirachta indica, Botanical soil amendments, Integrated nutrient management, Solanum melongena, Tagetes erecta.

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