EFFECT OF NITROGEN AND POTASSIUM ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF BARI PANIKACHU-6 (Colocasia esculenta)

Abstract

Colocasia esculenta is a highly nutritive vegetable which is very important for human health with daily diet. The present study was carried out at the farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207 during the period of February 2021 to July 2021 to study the effect of N and K for the growth and development of BARI panikachu-6 (Colocasia esculenta). Eight levels of N and K treatments including control were considered for the experiment viz. T 1 (control; N 0 P 0 K 0 kg ha -1 ), T 2 (RFD; N 100 P 30 K 100 S 15 kg ha ii -1 ), T 3 (N 50 K 90 kg ha -1 ), T 4 (N 50 K 75 kg ha -1 + P 30 S 15 kg ha -1 ), T 5 (N 75 K 100 kg ha -1 + P 30 S 15 kg ha + P 30 -1 kg ha -1 + P 30 S 15 kg ha -1 ), T 7 (N 75 K 75 kg ha -1 + P 30 S 15 kg ha -1 ) and T 8 ), T 6 (N 110 + P 30 S 15 kg ha -1 ) laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Among the treatments, T 2 (RFD; N 100 P 30 K 100 S 15 kg ha -1 ) showed the best performance on plant base diameter (30.87 cm), length of rhizome (73.50 cm), fresh weight of rhizome plant -1 (3.39 kg), fresh weight stolon palnt -1 (240.00 g), rhizome yield (82.24 t ha kg ha -1 -1 ) and stolon yield (6.12 t ha -1 ) and next to T 8 (N 110 K 110 ) considering growth and yield performance whereas control treatment T 1

(N 0 P 0 K 0 kg ha -1 ) showed minimum results. In terms of nutrient status in post harvest soil, pH, organic carbon (OC) and available P content was found non-significant among the treatments while the maximum S content (29.43 ppm) was recorded from the treatment T 3 (N 50 K 90 kg ha -1 + P 30 S 15 kg ha -1 ) compared to control. Considering growth, yield contributing parameters and yield and also nutrient status in soil, the treatment T 2

(RFD; N 100 P 30 K 100 S 15 kg ha -1 ) can be considered as best for BARI panikachu-6 cultivation followed by T 8 (N 110 K 110 kg ha -1 + P 30 S 15 kg ha -1 ). So, it can be concluded that recommended doses of fertilizers specially N and K are very effective for higher rhizome and stolon yield of Colocasia esculenta at farmers level of cultivation.