Abstract
Growth behaviour of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees. (common name: Kalmegh/Kalpnath) has been studied with reference to the application of various levels of fly ash such as 0% (control), 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% under pot culture conditions. Growth characteristics such as plant height, number of leaves, leaf area per leaf, leaf area per plant, fresh biomass, dry biomass (oven dried at 105°C for 24 hours), % moisture content, chlorophyll a & b and carotenoids were studied at the age of 60 days. All the growth characteristics were increased by 10 % fly ash incorporation into soil, whereas there was a continuous decline with higher doses of fly ash, i.e., 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% fly ash addition to soil.