EFFECT OF MULCHES AND POTASSIUM ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF GARLIC (Allium sativum L.)

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at the farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from November 2005 to April 2006 to investigate the effect of mulches and potassium on the growth and yield of garlic. There were altogether 16 treatments comprising four levels of mulches viz. control (M0), Saw dust (M1), Water hyacinth (M2), Rice straw (M3) and four potassium levels viz. Control (K0), 180 (K1 ), 210 (K2), 240 (K3) kg K20 per ha. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The crop was sown on 29 November, 2005 and harvested during 11 April, 2006. Data were recorded on different parameters and statistically analyzed. The results of the experiment demonstrated that mulching had significant effect on almost all the parameters studied in the experiment. Yield and yield contributing characters were found to be maximum in the plants mulched with different mulch materials than control. The highest (5.19 ton/ha) yield was produced by M2 whereas Mo (3.28 ton/ha) and M (3.9-l ton/ha) gave the lowest yield. Potassium also had the markedly significant variation in bulb yield and various yield components. The maximum (5.49 ton/ha) bulb yield was recorded at K2 treatment and the lowest yield (3.56 ton/ha) was found in K0. Application of potassium above 210 kg K20/ha decreased yield and not beneficial. Interaction effect of mulching and potassium revealed significant variation in yield and various growth parameters except plant height at 30, 45 and 75 days after sowing, number of leaves/plant at 75 days after sowing, dry weight of leaves per plant and fresh weight of roots/plant .Thc highest bulb yield (6.39 ton/ha) was obtained from the treatment combination of M2K2 and the lowest (2.29 ton/ha) was obtained from M0Ko. The benefit cost ratio (BCR) was the maximum (2.83) in the treatment combination of M2K2 whereas, the minimum (1.03) was recorded from M0K0.