EFFECT OF NITROGEN AND SPACING ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF STEM AMARANTH (Amaranth us viridus L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in the farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from March 2007 to June 2007. The experiment consisted of two factors. (A): Four levels of nitrogen i.e. 0 kg N/ha (No), 80 kgN/ha (N2), 110 kg N/ha (N3), 140 kg N/ha (N4); (8): Three spacing i.e. 30 cm x 20 cm (S1), 30 cm x 30 cm (S2), 30 cm x 40 cm (S3). The trial was laid out in the two factors Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. At 60 DAS the longest (92.35 cm) stem length was recorded from N3 and the control condition gave the shortest (83.35 cm). The maximum (22.53 mm) stem diameter was recorded from N3, while the control condition gave the minimum ( 19.06 mm). At 60 DAS the maximum (51.26 g) fresh weight of leaves per plant was recorded from N3 and control condition gave the minimum (40.02 g). At 60 DAS the maximum (6.27%) dry matter content of leaves per plant was recorded from N3, while the control gave the minimum (4.83%) which was closely (5.75%) followed by N1• The maximum (I 28.46 g) fresh weight of stem per plant was recorded from N3, while the control condition gave the minimum (114.93 g). At 60 DAS the maximum (15.65%) dry matter content of stem per plant was recorded from N3, while the control condition gave the minimum (13.74%). The highest (20.29 kg) yield per plot was recorded from N3 and the control gave the lowest (I 1.02 kg). At 60 DAS the highest (56.35 tonnes) yield per hectare was recorded from N3 and the control condition gave the lowest (30.61 tonnes). At 60 DAS the longest (90.68 cm) stem length was recorded from S3 and the shortest (86.71 cm) was from recorded from S1 and the maximum (21.55 mm) stem diameter was recorded from S3 and the minimum (18.31 mm) was from recorded from S1• At 60 DAS the maximum (49.60 g) fresh weight of leaves per plant was recorded from S3 and the minimum (44.35 g) was from recorded from S1• The maximum (6.00%) dry matter content of leaves· per plant was recorded from S3 and the minimum (5.42%) was from recorded from S1• At 60 DAS the maximum (126.10 g) fresh weight of stem per plant was recorded from S3 and the minimum (I 20.04 g) was from recorded from S1• At 60 DAS the maximum ( 15.34%) dry matter content of. stem per plant was recorded from S3 and the minimum (11.09%) was from recorded from S1• At 60 DAS the highest (19.48 kg) yield per plot was· recorded· from S2 and the lowest (13 .20 kg) was from recorded from S At 60 DAS the highest 54.10 tonnes) yield per hectare was recorded from S2 and the lowest (36.67 tonnes) was from recorded from S The highest (Tk. 731,200) gross return was obtained from the treatment combination of N2S2 and the lowest (Tk. 321,950) gross return was obtained from NoS1.