IMPACT OF ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS ON THE GROWTH AND VEGETATIVE YIELD OF RED AMARANTH (Amaranthus tricolor)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the Research Field, Department of Soil Science, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, from November 2023 to December 2023 during the Rabi season for assessing the effectiveness of various organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and vegetative yield of red amaranth. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with six treatments and three replications. The treatments were as follows; T1 = Control, T2 = 100% NPK, T3 = 100% ( Cow dung + compost) , T4 = 75% (Cow dung + compost) + 25 % NPK, T5 = 50% (Cow dung + compost) + 50% NPK, T6 = 25% (Cow dung + compost) + 75% NPK. The experimental soil belongs to the Old Himalayan Piedmont Plain (AEZ-1). The soil was sandy loam in texture having pH 5.60, OM content 0.82%, total N 0.080%, available P 3.30 ppm, exchangeable K 0.052 meq 100 g-1 soil and available S 7.53 ppm. Application of organic and inorganic fertilizers resulted in a considerable influence on the properties of the post-harvest soils such as the highest total N (0.16 %), available S (46.48 ppm) and soil OM content (0.87 %) and EC (0.35 μS cm-1) in T6 and T3, treatment. The application of organic and inorganic fertilizers had a significant effect on the growth and vegetative yield of red amaranth. The highest plant height (4.26, 16.53 and 26.10 cm at 15, 30 and 45 DAS , respectively), number of leaves (4, 6 and 7.53 at 15, 30 and 45 DAS, respectively), fresh and dry shoot weight (6.80 and 2.30 t ha-1, respectively), fresh and dry root weight (0.25 and 0.048 t ha-1, respectively) and the longest root length (9.50 cm) were observed in T6 treatment. The lowest values of all the parameters were noticed in the control treatment T1. It was evident that the proper use of organic fertilizers in conjunction with chemical fertilizers may significantly boost soil fertility and vegetative development of red amaranth. The study's findings revealed that treatment with T6 outperformed all other treatments. This study indicate that treating soil with 25% (cow dung and compost) + 75% NPK might be an effective strategy to promote future soil fertility and vegetative growth of red amaranth.