The effects of rate and timing of cricket frass application on Kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) production in low-fertility soils

The findings indicated that the varying rates of cricket frass application affected parameters such as shoot height, shoot fresh weight, and shoot dry weight. The treatment that applied cricket frass at 48 kg ha-1 yielded the highest values for shoot height (49.52 cm), shoot fresh weight (31.89 g plant-1), and shoot dry weight (8.69 g plant-1). Considering the various periods for applying cricket frass before planting, the results showed that the timings significantly impacted only the shoot fresh weight. Applying cricket frass 0 day before transplanting (applying on the same day as transplanting) resulted in the highest shoot fresh weight (23.40 g plant-1). Additionally, interactions between the rate of cricket frass application and the timing of cricket frass application before planting were observed in relation to shoot height, shoot fresh weight, and shoot dry weight of kalmegh. Specifically, applying cricket frass at a rate of 48 kg ha-1 on the same day as transplanting led to the highest shoot fresh weight (34.46 g plant-1) and shoot dry weight (9.55 g plant-1). Therefore, cricket frass showed potential as a fertilizer for enhancing the yield of kalmegh (Andrographis paniculata) in low-fertility soils.