MD. FARID HOSSAIN; Md. Serazul Islam
Abstract
The application of balanced fertilizers is essential to produce highquality broccoli. A field experiment was conducted to find an appropriate fertilizer management practice for broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. ‘Italica’) that can generate higher yield and quality. The experiment comprised ...
Read More
The application of balanced fertilizers is essential to produce highquality broccoli. A field experiment was conducted to find an appropriate fertilizer management practice for broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. ‘Italica’) that can generate higher yield and quality. The experiment comprised 24 treatment combinations with six fertilizer management practices, i.e., T1: control. T2: cow dung at 10 t ha-1. T3: chicken manure at 10 t ha-1. T4: recommended NPK dose. T5: cow dung at 5 t ha-1 + 50% of the recommended NPK dose. T6: chicken manure at 5 t ha-1 + 50% of the recommended NPK dose. The highest plant height (60.00 cm) occurred in response to T6, the highest stem length (22.25 cm) in T4, and the maximum number of leaves per plant (22.00) in T4 and T6 treatments. Maximum fresh leaf weight per plant (609 g), stem diameter (3.98 cm), curd diameter (16.63 cm), and individual curd weight (494.50 g) occurred in response to the T5 treatment. The optimum yield (25.78 t ha-1) of broccoli can be obtained by application of cow dung (5 t ha-1) with a recommended dose of 50% inorganic fertilizer NPK (T5). Maximum TSS value (10.54%) occurred in response to T3, which was statistically similar to the effect of T6 (10.52%). Vitamin C content (80.77 mg 100 g-1) became significantly high in response to the T4 treatment (100% recommended dose of NPK). Minimum vitamin C content (53.84 mg 100 g-1) occurred in the control treatment (T1). Applying cow dung at 5 t ha-1 in addition to the 50% recommended dose of NPK fertilizers (T5) led to superior yield values in broccoli.
Md. Serazul Islam
Abstract
During the dry season (November to April), a field experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Field Research Center of the Bangladesh Open University, Gazipur. The effects of different levels of irrigation with various mulches were evaluated on the growth and yield of tomatoes. The trial comprised ...
Read More
During the dry season (November to April), a field experiment was carried out at the Agricultural Field Research Center of the Bangladesh Open University, Gazipur. The effects of different levels of irrigation with various mulches were evaluated on the growth and yield of tomatoes. The trial comprised raised-bed furrow irrigation methods with three mulching treatments (i.e. without mulch, black polyethylene mulch and grass straw mulch) and two irrigation plans (6-day and 3-day intervals). The 6 treatments were designed in a randomized complete block (RCB) design in three replicates. In response to the 6-day and 3-day irrigation intervals, raised-bed furrow irrigation, with black polyethylene mulch, resulted in a significantly higher yield (96.46 t/ha and 102.19 t/ha) compared to the effect of no mulch on the yield (77.70 t/ha and 82.04 t/ha), respectively. The use of grass straw mulch (87.15 t/ha and 91.76 t/ha) also resulted in a significant yield, compared to no mulch. All three factors significantly influenced unit crop weight, fruit size at the age of 16, 18 and 20 weeks after transplanting, marketable fruit yield, plant water consumption and water use efficiency. The interaction between raised-bed furrow irrigation, mulching and irrigation schedule had a significant influence on the water use efficiency (WUE) of tomato production. The raised-bed furrow irrigation method in a two-row crop cultivation pattern was statistically equivalent in terms of WUE if it was mulched by black polyethylene and irrigated every 3 days.