EFFECT OF GROWING MEDIA AND WATERING FREQUENCIES ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF CARROT

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted at the central farm of the Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during December 2018 to March, 2019. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of growing media and watering frequencies on the growth, yield and quality attributes of carrot. The experiment consisted of two factors: Factor A: four growing media, viz., M 1 -cocopeat, M 2 - sawdust, M 3 - rice husk, M 4 - equal mixture of cocopeat, sawdust and rice husk and Factor B: different watering frequencies viz., W 1 - one day interval @ 200 ml, W 2 - two days interval @ 300 ml, W 3 - three days interval @ 400 ml, W 4 - four days interval @ 500 ml. There were 16 (4×4) treatments combination. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications. The experimental results showed maximum parameters were significantly influenced by different growing media and watering level. For growing media, the highest plant height (47.17 cm) at 100 DAS, number of leaves (12.31) at 100 DAS, length of root (12.25 cm), root diameter (20.25 mm), fresh weight of root (54.85 g), dry matter content of leaves (17.79 %), brix (10.57 %), β- carotene (9098.1 μg/100g) and moisture (86.01%) was obtained from M 1 and the lowest from M 4 . For watering level, the maximum plant height (53.92 cm) at 100 DAS, number of leaves (12.98), at 100 DAS, length of root (12.06 cm), root diameter (21.50 mm), fresh weight of root (55.83 g), brix (10.20%), β- carotene (9347.9 μg/100g) and moisture (86.59%) was recorded from W 2 and the lowest from W3. For combined effect, the maximum plant height (56.51 cm) at 100 DAS, number of leaves (13.46) at 100 DAS, length of root (13.52 cm), root diameter (23.81 mm), fresh weight of root (67.42 g), brix (11.20%), β- carotene (9884.4 μg/100g) and moisture (87.11%) was obtained from M 1 W 2 and the minimum from M 4 W 3 . So it might be concluded that the M 1 W 2 was found the best performed for high growth, yield and quality of carrot.