F.S. Shikha
Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh
M. Yasmin
Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh
M.A. Rahman
Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh
S. Akhter
Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh
Potassium fertilizers, Yield, Aroid
Soil Science Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh
Crop-Soil-Water Management
Fertilizer, Aroids
The experiment was started in the 2017-2018 period at the field of Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS) under Jamalpur district. Before initiation of the experiment, the soil samples were collected from a depth of 0-20 cm for each replication and analyzed following standard methods. The chemical properties of soils in the experimental site was silty clay loam in texture belonging to Sonatola series under Agro-Ecological Zone-8 and 9 (AEZ-8 and 9), 24?56´11´´N latitude and 89?55´54´´E longitude and an altitude of 16.46m. The nutrient status of initial soil prior to fertilization is presented. The chemical compositions (such as pH, organic carbon, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Zn and B) of decomposed cowdung were determined in the Soil Science Laboratory, BARI, Gazipur. The treatment combinations were: T1 = 100 % K of Recommended Dose of Chemical Fertilizer (RDCF) as basal, T2 = 100 % K of RDCFCF as top-dress (one split), T3 = 50 % K of RDCF as basal + 50 % K of RDCF as top-dress (two splits), T4 = 50 % K of RDCF as basal + 50 % K of RDCF as top-dress (three splits), T5 = 50 % K of RDCF as basal + 50 % K of RDCF as top-dress (four splits), T6 = Farmers' practice, T7 = Native fertility. Recommended Dose of Chemical Fertilizer is CD15t N107 P22 K90 S13 Zn6 B2 kg ha-1 and Farmers' practice is CD20 t N270 P50 K263 S20 kg ha-1. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Urea, triple superphosphate (TSP), muriate of potash (MoP), gypsum, zinc sulphate and boric acid were used as the sources of N, P, K, S, Zn and B, respectively. The entire quantities of phosphorus, sulphur, zinc and boron were applied before planting and mixing into the soil. Nitrogen was applied in six splits [starting at 60 DAP (days after planting) and then the rest of them at 15 days intervals]. The potassium was applied in two splits (equally as basal and 60 DAP). The application methods and doses of muriate of potash were followed as per treatment. In the Farmers' practice, cowdung was applied two times (half as basal and the rest half applying after the rainy season). On the other hand, urea and MoP were applied every time after weeding. Swamp taro (Colocasia esculenta L.) variety of BARI Panikachu-2 was used as a test crop. The unit plot size was 3 m × 4 m. Seedlings of Swamp taro were planted with a spacing of 60 cm × 45 cm on 11 December of 2017. The stolon was harvested at 60 DAP and harvesting was continued 10 days interval throughout the growing season. The crop (rhizome) was harvested on 15 June 2018. The field was intensively kept free from weeds for the first three months. Standing water of 8-10 cm was maintained in the field. Sometimes, the standing water was shaken and drained out. Dead leaves were removed regularly from the field. In some areas of the field, was infested by Provonia catterpiller and this was controlled by spraying Malathion 57 EC @ 02 ml-1 water for 3 times at 15 days interval. Soil samples were collected, dried and ground for chemical analysis. Bulk density was determined by using the core sampler Method (Blake, 1965), soil pH by glass electrode pH meter (1:2.5) and organic carbon by wet oxidation method (Walkley & Black, 1935). Total N content of the soil was determined by using the Kjeldahl method (Jackson, 1973), whereas available P, exchangeable K and available S contents by using 0.5M NaHCO3 (pH 8.5), NH4OAc and CaCl2 extraction methods, respectively, as outlined by Page et al. (1982). Yield attributes (plant height, number of leaves, number of stolon and stolon length) were recorded from 10 randomly selected plants. Stolon yield per plot was recorded and based on that, per hectare yield was calculated.
Annual Research Report 2018–2019, Soil Science Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh
Report/Proceedings