EFFECT OF SPACING AND COWDUNG ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF RADISH (Raphanus sativus L.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Horticultural Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from October 2006 to December 2006 to study the effect of different spacing viz. 40cm x 20cm, 40cm x 30cm and 40cm x 40cm and different levels of cowdung viz. control i.e. no cow-dung (Mi), 20 t/ha (M;), 40 t/ha

(M3)

and 60 t/ha (M4) on the growth and yield of radish. The experiment was conducted in the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Different spacing significantly influences the growth and yield of radish. Closer spacing (40cm x 20cm) resulted the highest root yield (37.06 t/ha) where the highest (337.13g) individual root weight was found in wider spacing (40cm x 40cm) at 75 days alter sowing (DAS). The highest root yield (31.07 t/ha at 75 DAS) was recorded from those plot where 60 t/ha cow-dung was applied which was statistically identical with 40 t/ha cow-dung, while the lowest (6.46 t/ha at 45 DAS) was recorded from control treatment. The combined effect of spacing and cow-dung were also found significant incase of radish production. The use of 60 t/ha cow-dung with 40cm x 20cm spacing produced the highest root yield (40.25 t/ha) at 75 DAS. The lowest root yield (5.40 t/ha) was recorded from 40cm x 40cm spacing with no cow-dung at 45 DAS. The benefit cost ratio (BCR) was the maximum (3.06) in the treatment combination of the closest spacing with no cow-dung at 75 DAS, whereas, the minimum (-0.29) in the treatment combination of the widest spacing with 60 t/ha cow-dung at 45 DAS. To obtain a profitable yield root should be harvested from 60 to 75 DAS.