INFLUENCE OF LIMING ON NUTRIENT-UPTAKE AND YIELD OF PALMAROSA (CYMBOPOGON-MARTINI VAR MOTIA)

A field experiment was conducted during 1990-91 and 1991-92 to study t he effect of 5 levels of lime on palmarosa [Cymbopogon martini (Roxb.) Wats. var motia Stapf]. Application of lime up to 12 tonnes/ha on aci d soil (pH 4.2) raised the pH to 6.6. It increased the dry herbage lin early. Increase of soil pH decreased N, P, K, Fe and Zn contents in dr y herbage but increased Ca and Mg contents. Liming showed positive eff ect on the uptake of N, P, K and Ca. Lime application up to 9 tonnes/h a increased the Fe and Mg uptake. Oil content (1.78-1.84%) of herb and total alcohol, calculated as geraniol (83.3-91.6%) in the oil, were n ot affected by any of the lime treatments.