Experiment was conducted at the rooftop of Soil Science Division, BARI, Gazipur during 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. The initial soil sample, vermicompost, compost and cowdung collected before establishing the experiment were analyzed in the laboratory following standard methods. Chemical parameters of the experimental soil and others organic materials are presented, respectively.
Nutrient management based research (organic and inorganic fertilizer combination) for food production in the rooftop garden was laid out in a randomized complete design with three replications. These were eight treatments viz. T1 = 100% STB, T2 = T1 + 1 kg kitchen waste (decomposed) 6 kg-1 soil, T3 = 80% of T1 + 2 kg kitchen waste (decomposed) 6 kg-1 soil, T4 = T1 + 1 kg cowdung 6 kg-1 soil, T5 = 80% of T1 + 2 kg cowdung 6 kg-1 soil, T6 = T1 + 1 kg vermicompost 6 kg-1 soil, T7 =80% of T1 + 2 kg Vermicompost 6 kg-1 soil &T8 = Absolute control were selected. Different types of pot (Tob, Half dram and Wood box) were used. Different vegetables namely Tomato (BARI Tomato-15), Bt. Brinjal (BARI Bt. Brinjal-2), Chilli (Baromashi), Red Amaranth (BARI Lalshak-1), Indian Spinach (BARI Puishak-2), Amaranth (BARI Danta-2), Kangkong (BARI Gimakolmi-1), Spinach (BARI Palongshak-1), Batishak (BARI Batishak-1), Chinashak (BARI Chinashak-1) were cultivated. Four fruits namely Lemon (Seedless), Mango (BARI Aam-3), Dragon fruit (BARI Dragon Fruit-1) and Papaya (Shahi) were cultivated. Three flowers namely Rose (Hybrid), Marigold (Inca) and Tuberose (Single) were cultivated.
Fertilizer N-P-K-S-Zn and B were supplied from urea, TSP, MoP, gypsum, zinc sulphate and boric acid, respectively. In case of vegetables and seasonal flowers, all organic fertilizer and PKSZnB and 1/3 of N were applied at the time of final soil preparation. The remaining two third of N were applied as top dress after sowing. In case of fruits and rose, all organic fertilizer and 1/6 PKSZnB and 1/6 of N were applied at the time of final land preparation. The remaining fertilizers were applied as top dress at two month intervals after transplanting. Irrigations and other intercultural operations were done as when required.
The soil used in the rooftop garden is sandy loam in texture having pH 6.5. The organic matter CONTENT was low (1.09%) and total N content was very low (0.08%). Available P, K, S & B were medium, low, medium & low, respectively but available Ca, Mg and Zn were exist in satisfactory level.