The effect of Compost on the Growth and Yield of Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), Indigenous Fungi, Nematode Population and Chemical properties of sandbar pit at the Tista river side Rangpur, Bangladesh.

Abstract

An experiment was carried out to investigate the growth and yield of pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), soil properties, fungi and nematode population in the temporary typical practice of compost incorporation sandbar pit at the Tista riverside of Rangpur area of Bangladesh during 2011-12. In the study, temporary formed sandbar was used which was amended with compost at varying rates viz. 0, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 kg /pit (60-75x60-75 cm’). Data were recorded on growth parameters viz. length of vine, leaves per plant, total number of vines per plant, male and female flowers per pit, fruit sets per pit at 50, 80, 110 days after sowing (DAS), yield (once at the end) of pumpkin, chemical properties of soil, fungal population at 30, 60, 90 and 120 DAS and nematode population at 60 DAS. The role of compost on growth and yield of pumpkin revealed and found positive statistical relationship. Incorporation of 14 kg/pit compost showed the highest growth (number of leaf, vine, male and female flowers fruit sets), yield, chemical properties, fungal and nematode population which was statistically at par with 12 kg compost /pit. Soil temperature (21-32.87°C), p' (5.85-7.35), organic matter (0.09-2.43%), TN (0.01-0.19%), P (72.63-231.90ppm), K (0.10-0.95 me/100g), S (40.69-96.79ppm), B (0.00-0.98ppm) and Zinc (4.34-23.46ppm) were determined as well as fungus propagules (18.1 /g soil) and nematode populations (Nematode 00-10.66/25g soil) were isolated from 114 kg compost pit. Altogether, five fungal genera in which three genera belonged to Deuteromycotina (Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium) and two Zygomycotna (Rhizopus and Mucor) were found by soil washing, dilution plate and direct plating methods in different treatments, but Fusarium (Conidia 0.00-21.33 / 10g) was the dominant one. There were positive correlation between fungal propagules (conidia 0.00-21.33 and fungal hyphae 0.00-18.00 per 10g soil) and nematode population (10.66/25g soil) with soil properties (p", organic matter, TN and P). The 12 kg /pit compost resulted highest yield (22.20 t/ha). Finally, it is concluded that 12 kg compost /pit resulted statistically higher yield, chemical properties, fungal and nematode population in non-residue sandbar pit ecosystem.