Effect of Nutrient Management on Growth, Yield and Yield Components of Selective Vegetable Crops in Calcareous Soils of Bangladesh

Abstract

Six field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of nutrient management on growth, yield and yield components of selected vegetable crops (cabbage, cauliflower and carrot) from November 2008 to March 2009 and November 2009 to March 2010 in calcareous soils of Bangladesh, which was originated “High Ganges River Floodplain”. There were two experiments in each crop. The treatments of first experiment of cabbage, cauliflower and carrot viz. T0=Control, T1=N, T2=NP, T3=NPK, T4=NPKS, T5=NPKZn, T6=NPKB, T7=NPKMo, T8= NPKSZn, T9=NPKSZnB, T10=NPKSZnBMo with three replications in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) during 2008-2009 season. The dose of N-P-K-S-Zn-B-Mo were 150-50-100-20-3-3-1 Kg/ha, respectively. The treatments of second experiment of cabbage, cauliflower and carrot, namely T0= Control, T1 =Zn2B2, T2=Zn2B2Mo0.5, T3=Zn3B3Mo1, T4=Zn2B2Mo.5Mn4, T5=Zn2B2Cu1 Mo0.5Mn4, T6= Zn3B3Cu2Mo1Mn8 (figures in subscrip indicate doses of concern nutrients) with basal dose of N-150, P-50 and K-100 Kg/ha. The experiments were conducted in same field and the initial soil properties were silty clay loam in texture. The organic matter of the experimental field soil was very low, N and S also low. The land was medium fertile and pH 7.2. Application of different nutrients exhibited significant influence on growth and yield of cabbage. The highest plant spread (70.76 cm), height (37.89 cm), leaf length (37.83cm) and breadth (27.13 cm), number of loose leaves (19.80), head thickness(12.85 cm), head diameter (23.03 cm), marketable head yield (76.53 t/ha), and also early head formation and maturity was obtained from NPKB. The treatment NPK+S shows the highest weight of loose leaves (640 g/plant) and decreased the weight of folded leaves or head weight. Whereas, the treatment NPK+B increased the folded leaves or maximum head weight (1894.18 g/plant). The yield was highly increased (43% over NPK) when NPK+B was added to the soil as the head formation was positively associated with B. In the second experiment of cabbage, the effect of Zn and B on foliage coverage was prominent in all growth periods. It was observed that Zn, B and Mo at 2.0, 2.0 and 0.5 kg/ha dose had the highest effect on head diameter (23.41cm), head thickness (12.41 cm), weight of marketable head (2181.20 g/plant), gross weight (2997.15g/plant) and total yield (88.10 t/ha) of cabbage which increased 43.76% production over control. The results exhibited that higher doses of Zn, B and Mo (3, 3 and 1 kg/ha respectively) reduced the yield (7.62 t/ha) compared with lower doses (2.0, 2.0 and 0.5 kg/ha, respectively). Addition of Cu and Mn showed negative response to head yield of cabbage. In the first experiment of cauliflower, the treatment NPKSBMo produced the longest (44.63 cm) as well as the widest leaf (22.08 cm). The nutrients S, Zn, B and Mo increased the leaf breadth, canopy diameter when added individually with NPK fertilizers. Application of boron had significant and positive effect on plant height (44.18 cm). The maximum weight of leaves (710.07 g/plant), largest diameter of curd (16.26 cm) and maximum height of curd (9.73 cm) were recorded from the treatment containing NPKB. NPKS, NPKZn and NPKSZn decreased the weight of leaf, curd diameter and curd height than NPK. The result shows that B had positive and significant effect on weight of leaf, curd diameter and curd height, and Mo had positive and significant effect on weight of leaf but insignificant effect on curd diameter and curd height. The maximum marketable curd weight (715.30 g/plant), curd weight (499.78 g/plant), marketable curd yield (28.9 t/ha) was recorded from NPK+B treatment which increased the yield 437.87% over control and 30.83% over NPK. The treatment NPK+S and NPK+Zn reduced the yield 19.92% and 7.92% over NPK, respectively. When Mo added with NPK the curd yield was increased 391.98% over control and 17.12% over NPK. It is noted that B and Mo have positive effects on curd yield of cauliflower. In the second experiment of cauliflower, the maximum curd Diameter (16.61 cm), thickness (9.95 cm), curd weight (707.8 g/plant), marketable curd weight (886.7 g/plant) and highest yield (35.82 t/ha, 24.67% increased over control) was obtained from treatment Zn2B2Mo0.5 In the first experiment of carrot, the maximum plant height (51.08 cm) and root length (16.22 cm) was found by the application of NPK. The maximum root diameter (4.66 cm) was recorded when all nutrients (T10) added to the soil. Maximum fresh weight of leaves (95.83 g/plant) was found in NPKSZnBMo. The highest yield (27.48 t/ha) which was 67.48% higher over control was obtained from the plot receiving all the nutrients. In second experiment of carrot, the lower rates of micronutrients produced the maximum plant (60.30 cm). The maximum diameter (6.42 cm) was observed in control plot where NPK as basal. The lower dose of micronutrients (Zn2B2Cu1Mo0.5Mn4) produced the maximum root weight (147.3 g/plant), shoot weight (84.67 g/plant) and root yield (29.76 t/ha) which increased 37.26% root yield over control. Therefore, it can be concluded that application of B with NPK increased the vigorous vegetative growth and yield of cabbage, and cauliflower. Boron was found more effective in leaf folding or head formation, early head maturity of cabbage and proper curd formation of cauliflower. It is also noted that Mo has positive effect on curd yield of cauliflower. Zinc and Boron alone or combine with NPK shows better performance on carrot yield. Among micronutrients B is required for cabbage, B and Mo for cauliflower, and Zn and B for carrot cultivation in calcareous soils of Bangladesh.