GROWTH AND YIELD OF CARROT AS INFLUENCED BY POTASSIUM AND BORON

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at horticulture farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from December 2020 to March 2021 in Rabi season to study the growth and yield of carrot as influenced by potassium and boron. The experiment consisted of two factors, and followed Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Factor A: Different levels of potassium (4) viz; K 0 = Control (0 kg K 2 O /ha), K 1 = 160 kg K 2 ii

O ha -1 , K 2 = 180 K 2 O ha -1 , K 3 = 200 K 2 and Factor B: Different doses of boron application (3) viz; B 0 = 0 g H 3 water (Control), B 1 = 1 g H 3 BO 3 L -1 water and B 2 = 2 g H 3 BO 3 L -1 water. In case of potassium application the highest plant height at harvest (62.45 cm), fresh weight of leaves (97.67 g), root weight per plant (139.67 g), root length (13.47 cm), root diameter (4.32 cm), dry matter of leaves (12.30 %), dry matter of root (17.77 %), and marketable root yield per hectare (33.70 t) were recorded in K 3 (200 K 2 O ha -1 ) treatment. In terms of different doses of boron application, B 2 (2 g H 3 BO 3 L -1 water) treatment showed the highest plant height at harvest (63.45 cm), fresh weight of leaves (105.06 g), root weight per plant (138.71 g), roots length (13.98 cm), root diameter (4.15 cm), dry matter of leaves (12.56%), dry matter of carrot roots (17.87 %), marketable yield per hectare (32.98 t) . Due to combined effect of potassium and boron the treatment K 3 B 2 BO 3 (200 K 2 with 2 g H 3 BO 3 L -1 water) affected carrot plant growth and yield and recorded the highest value of plant height (66.60 cm) at harvest, fresh leaves weight per plant (111.50 g), root weight per plant (153.00 g), root length (14.37 cm), root diameter (4.37 cm), dry matter of leaves (14.33 %), dry matter of root (18.92 %), marketable yield per hectare (37.67 t) and benefit-cost ratio of 2.44 than compared to other treatment combinations. Therefore, it is suggested that application of 200 kg K 2 O ha -1 along with 2 g H 3 BO 3 ) was found suitable for growth and yield of carrot.