Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Leaf Litter Amendment in Forest Soil and Their Effect on the Yield Quality of Red Amaranth

Mr. Biplob Kumar Saha
Assistant Professor
Department of Agricultural Chemistry Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202 Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A pot experiment was conducted at the open net house of the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, during the period from March to June 2007 using soil collected from the surrounding areas of Gazni sal forest of Jhenaigati upazilla under Sherpur district to study the effect of different forest tree leaf litters on growth, yield, nutrient contents of red amaranth cv. Altapety. Plant height, number of leaves plant^-1, dry weight plant^-1 and moisture content (%) were significantly influenced by the addition of different forest tree leaf litters and highest values were obtained from the chemical fertilizer treatment which was identical with teak leaf litter in most of the parameters. The lowest values of most of the parameters were obtained from control treatment. Nutrient contents of red amaranth were significantly influenced by the addition of different leaf litters except Mg. The highest and lowest values of most of the nutrient contents and their uptake were recorded from chemical fertilizer and control treatment, respectively. It was also observed that addition of different leaf litters substantially decreased soil acidity and significantly increased the organic matter, total N, available P, exchangeable K, available Ca, Mg contents in the post harvest soil. The performance of these leaf litters with respect to growth, yield, nutrient contents and their uptake by red amaranth and the soil fertility was in the order teak >eucalyptus>acacia>sal. Overall results suggested that leaf litters can be used as an alternative of chemical fertilizer in the surrounding areas of Gazni sal forest for profitable production of leafy vegetables like red amaranth.

Keywords: Leaf litter, Red amaranth, Forest soil, Yield quality

Location: Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh,

Start Date: 01-07-2009

End Date: 30-06-2012

Program Area: Farming System

Commodity: Contamination of soil

Objectives:

In Bangladesh most of the vegetables are produced in summer and winter season, while in between these two seasons, there is a lag period when scanty of vegetables exists. Red amaranth is very popular, tasty and nutritious leafy vegetable in our country but unfortunately the production of this popular vegetable is very low according to our demand. So the production of these vegetables should be increased to meet up our increasing demand. Considering all these facts, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of various forest tree leaf litters and chemical fertilizer applications on the growth and yield quality, nutrient contents of red amaranth.

Methodology:

An experiment was conducted with red amaranth at the open net house and the chemical analyses were done in the laboratory of the Department of Agricultural chemistry and Professor Mohammad Hossain Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. The soil used in this experiment was collected from surrounding area of Gazni sal forest of Sherphur district. Acacia (Acacia auriculiformis), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), teak (Tectona grandis), and sal (Shorea robusta) litters were collected from fifteen different locations of Gazni sal forest. The litters were dried under open sunlight and ground in a steel grinding mill containing a fine sieve. Prepared samples were stored in desiccators before using. The experiment was carried out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. The experiment comprised of six treatments including a control (T₁= Control (no leaf litter i.e. soil only), T₂= Acacia, T₃= Eucalyptus, T₄= Teak, T₅= Sal, T₆= Chemical fertilizer). All the leaf litters were applied @ 20 t ha^-1 and chemical fertilizers were applied @ recommended dose of fertilizer recommendation guide (BARC 2005). The seeds of red amaranth cv. Altapety were collected from the Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), Mymensingh and (12 x 12 inch²) earthen pots were prepared by mixing the soil with leaf litters and watered. After 1 month 30 seeds of red amaranth were sown uniformly in each pot. The chemical fertilizers were mixed with soil in the previous day of sowing. The urea fertilizer was applied at two installments. Two times thinning was done at 7 days interval and finally 10 plants of red amaranth were kept in each pot. Irrigation and other intercultural operations were done if and when necessary. The plants were harvested 40 days after sowing. Plant heights, number of leaves plant^-1, dry weight plant^-1 and moisture content were measured. N, P, K, Mg, Ca, S and Fe content of the plant samples were estimated. The pH, organic carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen, available P, Ca, Mg and exchangeable K content of soils were measured. The nutrient contents of plant and soil samples were analyzed by following standard methods as outlined by Page, et. al (1982). Soil texture was determined following hydrometer method as described by Black (1965). Soil pH was measured using a glass electrode pH meter (WTW pH 522) at a soil-water ratio of 1: 2.5. Soil organic C was determined by Walkley and Black's wet oxidation method. The data were analyzed statistically by F-test. The mean comparisons of the treatments were evaluated by LSD Test. Analysis of variance was done following the Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with the help of computer package MSTAT.

Source of Information: J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 8(2): 221–226, 2010

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget: 500000

Total Budget (Tk.) : 500000

Achievement/Findings:

Leaf litters showed the significant positive effect on yield and yield contributing characters, nutrient content and uptake by red amaranth. Utilization of leaf litters directly or indirectly would help us to increase soil organic matter. Unfortunately very little attention has been paid on our forest and the fertility of soil. Within the limit of this experiment, it can be concluded that for profitable and quality crop production and for improving soil properties, the application of leaf litters would be better than chemical fertilizers.

Knowledge Management: Journal