EFFECT OF NITROGEN AND PLANT GROWTH REGULATOR ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF RED AMARANTH (Anuuanthus tricolor L.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted in Horticultural farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka to find out the effect of nitrogen and plant growth regulator on the growth and yield of red amaranth (Amaranthus tricolor L) during the period from November to December 2006. Four levels of nitrogen viz. N0: 0 kg/ha, N 69 kg/ha, N2: 92 kg/ha, N3: 115 kg/ha and different concentration of Indole-3-Acetic Acid (IAA) viz. 10: 0 ppm IAA, I 1: 150 ppm IAA, Ii: 200 ppm IAA, 13: 250 ppm IAA were used for this experiment. Plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, growth rate of stem diameter, growth rate of height, growth rate of weight and yield were increased as the levels of nitrogen were increased. Incase of different concentrations of lndole-3-Acetic Acid, plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, growth rate of stem diameter, growth rate of height, growth rate of weight and yield were increased up to Ii level then the parameter mentioned above was decreased. The maximum plant height ( 46.33 cm), stem diameter (12.33 mm), growth rate of height (l.286 cm/day), growth rate of stem diameter (0.342 mm/day), growth rate of weight (0.716 g/day), leaf area (56.l l crn/) and yield (19.50 t/ha) were measured from N3Ii treatment at harvest. The maximum benefit cost ratio (BCR = 2.5) was recorded from N312 treatment and the minimum ( 1.86) was found from N010 treatment.