EFFECT OF NPK AND COMPOST ON THE GROWTH AND VEGETATIVE YIELD OF RED AMARANTH (Amaranthus tricolor)

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out at the Research Field, Department of Soil Science, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, during the period from November 2023 to December 2023 in Rabi season to evaluate the efficacy of NPK and compost on the growth and vegetative yield of red amaranth. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) having six treatments with three replications. The treatments were as follows; T1 = Control, T2 = 100% NPK, T3 = 100% compost, T4 = 25% NPK + 75%compost, T5 = 50% NPK + 50% compost, T6 = 75% NPK+ 25% compost. The experimental soil belongs to the Old Himalayan Piedmont Plain (AEZ-1). The soil was sandy loam in texture having pH 5.60, organic matter content 1%, total N 0.080%, available P 3.30 ppm, exchangeable K 0.52 meq 100 g-1 soil and available S 7.53 ppm. The application of NPK and compost had a significant effect on the growth and vegetative yield of red amaranth. The tallest plant height (5.90, 21.40, and 26.31 cm at 15, 30, and 45 during final harvest respectively) was found in the treatment T6 and the shortest plant height (4.50, 9.06, and 13.96 cm at 15, 30, and 45 during final harvest, respectively) was observed in T1 (control). The maximum number of leaves (4.70, 8.34, 10.40 at 15, 30, and 45 during final harvest, respectively) was recorded in the treatment T6 whereas the minimum number of leaves (3.79, 5.90, 7.50 at 15, 30, 45 during final harvest, respectively) was found in the T1 (control). Application of NPK and compost resulted in a considerable influence on the properties of the post-harvest soils such as the highest total N (0.160%), available S (6.53 ppm) inT3 treatment and soil organic matter content (1.40 %) and EC (0.21 mSm-1) in T6 treatment. The treatment T6 produced the highest both fresh and dry shoot weight (3.78 and 1.83 t ha-1 respectively) but the lowest fresh and dry shoot weight (1.14 and 0.56 t ha-1 respectively) was obtained from the control treatment (T1). The maximum fresh and dry root weight (1.41 and 0.76 t ha-1, respectively) and tallest root length (7.80 cm) was recorded from the treatment T6 and the minimum both fresh and dry root weight (0.42 and 0.21 t ha-1, respectively) and smallest root length (6.30 cm) was observed in the T1 (control). It was obvious that fertility of soil and vegetative growth of red amaranth can be increased substantially with the judicious application of compost with chemical fertilizers. The findings of the study showed that the performance of treatment T6 was the best among all treatments. This study suggests that amendment of soil with 75% NPK + 25% compost might be an efficient practice for achieving sustainable soil fertility and vegetative growth of red amaranth.