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Growth and Yield Performance of Aloe Vera Grown in Different Soil Types of Bangladesh

Tanzin Chowdhury
Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh.

Md Arifur Rahman
Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Kamrun Nahar
Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Md. Akhter Hossain Chowdhury
Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh

Md. Sirajul Islam Khan
Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh.

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Plant requires suitable soil for higher yield, quality growth and desired crop productivity that differ with soil characteristics, availability of the nutrient elements and overall soil fertility. Aloe vera, a documented medicative plant, is used for numerous medical and cosmetic applications since very beginning of the civilization. An experiment was conducted in Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA), Mymensingh to find out the most appropriate soil for A. vera cultivation. Seven types of soils viz., acid, calcareous, non-calcareous, charland, saline, peat and acid sulphate were collected from different locations of Bangladesh. Eighteenth month old Aloe vera seedlings were collected from Shomvogonj, Mymensingh and planted during last week of May, 2017 following completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Most of the soils were light grey in colour, acidic to neutral in nature and clay to clay loam in texture except non-calcareous and charland soils. Bulk density, particle density and field capacity ranged from 1.23−1.45 g cm−3, 2.20−2.58 g cm−3 and 27.07−30.20%, respectively. The ranges of pH, EC and organic matter contents were 3.8 to 7.8, 0.25 to 14.04 dS m⁻¹ and 0.88 to 16.40%, respectively. The organic matter content was found as low to moderate except peat soil. Total N, exchangeable K, available P and S contents ranged from 0.05−0.95%, 0.17−0.73 cmol kg⁻¹, 3.09−12.10 and 11.06−735.12 µg g⁻¹ soil, respectively. Growth and leaf biomass yield of A. vera was significantly influenced by different soil types. The highest plant height, leaf number, leaf area and leaf fresh weight were recorded from the plant grown in non-calcareous soil whereas maximum fresh gel weight, dry leaf weight and yield increase over acid sulphate soil were found from the plant grown in calcareous soil. The highest fresh leaf gel weight (907 g plant⁻¹) was obtained from the plant grown in calcareous soil which was identical with the gel weight (880 g plant⁻¹) of the plant grown in acid soil. The yield increase of acid, non-calcareous, charland, saline1 (6.32 dS m⁻¹) and saline2 (8.14 dS m⁻¹) soils over acid sulphate soil were 718, 712, 394, 144 and 86%, respectively. The overall performance of the soils in relation to leaf biomass yield was of the following order: calcareous ≥ acid ≥ non-calcareous > charland > saline1 (6.32 dS m⁻¹) > saline2 (8.14 dS m⁻¹) > peat > acid sulphate soil. The results suggest that farmers could be advised to grow A. vera either in calcareous or acid soils of Bangladesh. Since calcareous and non-calcareous soils are mostly used for growing cereals, pulses, cash crop like sugarcane, fruits etc., acid soil could be used for cultivating this important medicinal crop considering the socioeconomic conditions of the country.

Keywords: Aloe vera; Soil types; Leaf biomass yield, Leaf gel weight

Location: Net house of Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-05-2017

End Date: 00-08-2017

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Non-commodity: Performance

Objectives:

To study the correlations of the soil factors with its growth, and leaf biomass yield.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted in the net house of Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Mymensingh during May to August 2017. Seven types of soils namely acid, calcareous, non-calcareous, charland, saline, peat and acid sulphate soils were collected from different locations of six districts of Bangladesh viz., Fulbaria (Mymensingh), Sadar (Natore), Agronomy Field Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Melandoh (Jamalpur), Botiaghata (Khulna), Kotalipara (Gopalganj) and Pekua (Cox’s Bazar), respectively during the month of February−April, 2017 for A. vera cultivation. Eighteen months old A. vera seedlings were collected from Shomvogonj, Mymensingh and used for the experiment following CRD with three replications. For the present investigations, approximately 40 kg soils from each location were collected from 0–15 cm depth of selected fallow land to screen out the best soil for Aloe vera cultivation. The soils were separately put in to plastic bags and carried to the laboratory with proper tagging. The collected soil samples were made free from plant residues and other extraneous materials; then air dried, ground and sieved through a 2 mm sieve. The whole process was done several times until adequate amount of soil was prepared for the experiment. Eight kg processed soil was taken in each earthen pot of 23 cm in height with 30 cm diameter at the top and 18 cm diameter at the bottom. Approximately 500 g sieved soil from each source was preserved in a polythene bag for physical and chemical analyses. The soil was mixed thoroughly with well decomposed dry cow dung (CD), urea, TSP, MoP and gypsum @500.0, 2.0, 0.9, 1.2 and 0.75 g pot^–1, respectively in each pot for normal growth and development of A. vera seedlings. The total nutrient concentrations of CD used in the experiments were OC, N, P, K, S, Ca and Mg as 24.03, 1.05, 0.35, 0.45, 0.24, 0.16 and 0.015% respectively. Distilled water was added in each pot, covered with polyethylene and kept for one week before transplanting. Intercultural operations like irrigation, soil loosening, weeding, insect pest control etc. were done as and when necessary. The crop was destructively harvested at 120 days after planting (DAP), cleaned, oven dried at 60°C for 72 hours. Plant height, branches plant⁻¹, leaves plant⁻¹, leaf area plant⁻¹, fresh and drvariance (ANOVA) was done following the principal of F-statistics and the mean values were separated by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (Gomez and Gomez, 1984). y leaf weight of stevia were studied.

Source of Information: J Bangladesh Agril Univ 16(3): 448–456, 2018 ISSN 1810-3030 (Print) 2408-8684 (Online)

Article Link (Online Journal): https://doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v16i3.39416

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Aloe vera cultivation is expanding with the passage of time in different areas of the country as it provides quick and regular income to the farmers. The overall results of the study revealed that the growth and leaf gel yield of A. vera was significantly influenced by different soils types. In this study, among seven representative soil types, the calcareous soil displayed the best comprehensive performances in terms of the plant height, branch and leaf number, leaf area and fresh weight of leaves followed by those of non-calcareous and acid soils. The highest results of other growth parameters i.e., dry weight, gel weight of leaf and yield increase over acid sulphate soil was found in calcareous soil. In contrast, the lowest values of all the parameters were found in the plant grown in acid sulphate soil, which was at par with the plant grown in peat soil. The increase of dry leaf yield ranged from 12% in peat soil to 734% in calcareous soil over acid sulphate soil. The overall results suggest that farmers could be advised to grow A. vera either in calcareous or acid soils of Bangladesh. Since calcareous and non-calcareous soils are mostly used for growing cereals, pulses, cash crop like sugarcane, fruits etc, acid soil could be a better option for cultivating this important medicinal crop considering the socioeconomic conditions of the country.

Knowledge Management: Journal