INFLUENCE OF VERMICOMPOST AND PLANT DENSITY ON GROWTH AND SEED YIELD OF CORIANDER

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the research farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207 during the period from September, 2018 to March, 2019 to find out the influence of vermicompost and plant density on growth and quality seed yield of coriander. The variety BARI Dhonia 1 was used in the experiment as the test crop. The experiment consisted of two factors: Factor A: three different plant densities viz. P 1 = 20 plants/m 2 , P 2 = 40 plants/m 2 , P 3 = 80 plants/m and Factor B: four levels of vermicompost viz. V 0 = 0 t/ha, V 1 = 5 t/ha, V 2 2 = 10 t/ha and V = 15 t/ha. There were 12 treatment combinations and experiment was setup in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The result indicated significant variations in plant height, number of primary branches per plant, number of umbels per plant, umbellate per umbel, number of seeds per plant, dry seed weight per plant, dry seed weight per plot, seed yield, germination percentage, electric conductivity test value, seedling root length and shoot length due to different plant density and/or vermicompost application. Results also revealed that, 40 plant/m ) treatment significantly influenced the morphological characters, yield contributing characters and seed quality of coriander. The highest germination percentage (77.33 %) was also obtained from this treatment but 80 plant/m 2 (P ) treatment significantly influenced on yield which gives highest seed yield (2.66 t ha 3 -1 ) due to its high plant density. Results also revealed that, application of 15 t ha -1 3 vermicompost (V ) treatment significantly influenced the morphological characters, yield contributing characters, yield and seed quality of coriander. The highest seed yield (2.71 t ha ) and germination percentage (78.66 %) was also obtained from this treatment. Among the treatment combination, P 3 V 3 (80 plant/m 2 with 15 t/ha vermicompost) treatment seemed to be more promising for obtaining higher yield (3.33 t ha -1 ) but application of 15 t ha -1 of vermicompost with 40 plants m -2 (P 2 V ) combination seemed to be more suitable for getting quality seed production of coriander. .