The experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali, during the period from November 2013 to March 2014 to find out the effect of phosphorus and sulphur application on the growth and yield of garden pea (Pisum sativum L.).
The study comprised the following treatments:
A. Phosphorus level: 3
1). P0: Control
2). P30: 30 kg N/ha
3).P50: 50 kg N /Ha
B. Sulphur level: 3
1). S0: Control
2). S20: 20 kg S /ha
3). S40: 40 kg S /ha
There were 9 treatment combinations of phosphorus and sulphur levels used in the experiment as followings:
T1 = P0 S0 (Control)
T2 = P0 S20 kg ha-1
T3 = P0 S40 kg ha-1
T4 = P30 S0 kg ha-1
T5 = P30 S20 kg ha-1
T6 = P30 S40 kg ha-1
T7 = P50 S0 kg ha-1
T8 = P50 S20 kg ha-1
T9 = N50 S40 kg ha-1
Design and layout of the experiment
The experiment was laid out with randomized completely block design (RCBD) with three replications. The experimental plot was first divided into three blocks. Each block consisted of 9 unit plots. Different combination of P and S were assigned randomly to each block as per design of the experiment.
Total number of plot = 27
Individual plot size = 2.0 m × 1.5m (2 m2)
Block to block distance = 1.0 m
Plot to Plot distance = 0.5 m
Row to row distance = 20 cm
Plant to plant distance = 5 cm
Land preparation, collection of initial and final soil sample, fertilizer application sowing of seeds and necessary intercultural operations such as gap filling, weeding, irrigation and pesticide application, harvesting, threshing and drying of straw and seed were done accordingly.
Following data were collected
A) Plant characters and growth parameters
i. Plant height (cm)
ii. Number of branch plant-1
iii. Root length (cm)
iv. Leaf area of plant (cm2)
v. Total nodule plant-1
B). Yield and yield components
i). Number of pod plant-1
ii. Pod length (cm)
iii. Number of seed pod-1
iv. Thousand seed weight (g)
v. Seed yield (t ha-1)
Analysis of soil sample: Initial and final soil samples were analyzed for pH, percent OC, total N, available P and S. The collected data were statistically analyzed by using the ANOVA technique. The Duncan`s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) with Least Significant Difference value was determined with appropriate levels of significance and the means were tabulated. The mean comparison was carried out by DMRT technique (Gomez and Gomez, 1984).