EFFECT OF SOWING TINE AND FERTILIZER MANAGEMENT ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF STEM AMARANTH (Ainaranthus viridis L)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted in the Horticultural farm of Shcr-e-I3angla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period from March to June 2007 to find out the optimum sowing time and suitable fertilizer management on the growth and yield of stem amaranth. The experiment consist of two factors. Factor A: Three levels of sowing time, such as S: 16 March; S2: 31 March and S3: 15 April; Factor B: Four levels of fertilizer, such as 17 0 : No fertilizer; F 1 : Cowdung(20 uha); F 2: Poultry litter (10 tlha) and F 3: Inorganic fertilizer (Urea: 200 kg/ha + TSP: IOU kg/ha + MP: 200 kg/ha). In case of sowing time. S 2 produced the highest yield (64.92 tlha) and lowest (55.15 tlha) was from S. In case of fertilizer management, F3 produced the highest yield (73.18 tlha) of stem amaranth while the minimum (36.58 tArn) result was obtained from control. For combined effect. S 7 F3 produced the highest yield (79.27 L/ha) while the minimum (35.98 t/ha) result was recorded from S2F0 . The highest net return (TIc 243102/ha) was recorded from the treatment combination of S 2 F3 and the lowest (Tk. 69174/ha) was recorded from S 1 F0 . The highest (3.23) benefit cost ratio was recorded from SF3 and the lowest benefit cost ratio (1.68) was recorded from '0. It may be concluded that 31 March sowing with the application of inorganic fertilizer was found suitable for growth and yield of stem amaranth.