Pantnagar Journal of Research

Abstract

Natural farming is an ecologically sustainable production system that relies on locally available biological resources to improve soil health, crop growth and agro-ecosystem resilience while minimising dependence on chemical inputs. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of selected natural farming inputs (NFIs), namely Panchagavya, Jeevamruth and Amritpani on the growth and development of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) cultivar PG-186 under greenhouse conditions. Eleven treatments were assessed, and all NFI-based applications significantly enhanced plant growth compared to the control and farmyard manure (FYM). Among the evaluated inputs, Panchagavya proved most effective, resulting in superior biomass accumulation, nutrient uptake and biochemical attributes. Notably, Panchagavya application significantly increased plant height (54.51 ± 1.19 cm), fresh biomass (9.27 g) and dry biomass (3.05 g) over the control. Overall, the results highlight the potential of NFIs, particularly Panchagavya, as sustainable and efficient alternatives to conventional inputs for improving chickpea growth and productivity