EFFECT OF SULPHUR AND ZINC FERTILIZERS ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF CHILI (BARI Morich 4)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the research field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, during the Rabi season from November 2021 to April 2022 to study the effect of sulphur (S) and zinc (Zn) fertilizer on green chili production (cv. BARI Morich 4). The experiment consisted of two factors, viz., Factor A: 3 levels of Sulphur (S

(Zn 0 : 0 kg ha -1 , Zn 1 : 2 kg ha -1 0 : 0 kg ha and Zn 2 -1 , S 1 : 20 kg ha : 4 kg ha -1 -1 , S 2 : 30 kg ha -1 ) and Factor B: three levels of zinc ). Two-factor experiments with Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) were followed with 9 treatment combinations and replicated three times. Vegetative growth, yield contributing characters, and yield were measured during the experiment. The growth and yield of BARI Morich 4 were significantly affected by different levels of S. The highest plant height (66.12 cm), number of leaves plant -1 (96.13), number of branches plant -1 (15.50) and the highest number of fruits plant -1 (104.57), flowers plant -1 (111.18), fruit length (7.10 cm), fruit diameter (0.56 cm), individual fruit weight (1.73 g), average fruit weight plant -1 (177.27 g), fruit yield ha -1 (28.21 t) were obtained from S

treatment. Similarly, the growth and yield were significantly affected by different rates of Zn fertilizer application. The highest plant height (66.06 cm), number of leaves plant -1 (92.61), number of branches plant -1 (14.76) and the highest number of flowers plant -1 (109.24), fruits plant -1 (98.81), fruit length (6.93 cm), fruit diameter (0.58 cm), individual fruit weight (1.69 g), average fruit weight plant (169.05 g), fruit yield ha -1 (27.35 t) were recorded from Zn treatment. Considering the combined effect of S and Zn, growth contributing parameters and yield were affected and the tallest plant (74.83 cm), maximum number of leaves plant -1 2 (101.32), maximum number of branches plant -1 -1 (16.74), highest number of flowers plant

(121.26), maximum number of fruits plant -1 (114.09), highest fruit length (7.79 cm), highest fruit diameter (0.63 cm), highest individual fruit weight (1.78 g), average fruit weight plant -1 (203.49 g) and fruit yield ha

(33.52 t) were recorded from S 1 Zn . Meanwhile, the lowest values of the parameters were found in the control application of sulphur and zinc. Therefore, it can be concluded that 20 kg ha 2 -1 of sulphur and 4 kg ha

-1 of zinc were found beneficial for the growth and yield of green chili in the soils of Madhupur Tract.