EFFECT OF CLOVE SIZE AND MULCHING ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF GARLIC

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in the Horticulture Farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, during the period from November. 2007 to March, 2008 to find out the effect of clove size and mulching on the growth and yield of garlic. The experiment consisted of two factors. Factor A: Three levels of clove size; C 1 : 44 g/lOO cloves, C 2 : 63 g/ioo cloves and C3 : 90 W100 cloves and Factor B: Four types of mulch; M 0: no mulch (control), M1 : rice straw. M 2: black polythene and M 3 : water hyacinth. In case of clove size maximum number of cloves per bulb (23.50), highest fresh weight of bulb (15.09 g) and the highest yield (3.91 liha) was recorded from C3 treatment while C 1 treatment gave the minimum. In case of mulches maximum number of cloves per bulb (24.33), highest fresh weight of bulb (15.42 g) and the highest yield (4.29 tlha) was recorded from M 2 , while all the above parameters was the lowest at M0 . For combined effect maximum number of cloves per bulb (27.00), highest fresh weight of bulb (15.85 g) and the highest yield of bulb (4.51 tiha) was recorded from C3M2 and the lowest (2.81 tiha)was recorded from C1 M0 . The highest benefit cost ratio (2.00) was noted from C2M2 and the lowest (1.38) was obtained from C 1 M. From the above results C2 M2 treatment combination were best for growth and yield of garlic.