EFFECT OF BIO-FERTILIZER WITH REDUCED AMOUNT OF CHEMICAL FERTILIZER ON GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY OF KOHLRABI VARIETY

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at research field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from October 2020 to January 2021 in Rabi season to study the on the effect of bio-fertilizer with reduced amount of chemical fertilizer on growth, yield and quality of kohlrabi variety. The experiment consisted of two factors, and followed Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Factor A: Kohlrabi varieties (3) viz; V 1 = Quick star, V = Challenger, V 3 = Rapid and Factor B: Different fertilizer managements (3) viz; F = Recommended dose of NPK (Control), F 1 2 = 50 % NPK + 2 kg/ha biofertilizer, F = 50 % NPK + 4 kg/ha biofertilizer and F = 50 % NPK + 6 kg/ha biofertilizer. Experimental results revealed that different varieties and application of different doses of bio-fertilizers significantly influenced the growth, yield and quality of kohlrabi. In case of different kohlrabi varieties the lowest yield (12.96 t ha 3 -1 2 ) was observed in V

(Quick star) variety. Whereas cultivating Challenger (V ) variety gave the highest fresh weight of knobs (128.12 g), dry weight of knob (8.16 g), knob diameter (6.43 cm), yield (14.24 t ha -1 2 ), magnesium content (0.89 %), potassium content (2.31 %), manganese content (25.38 ppm) and vitamin C content (28.17 mg 100 g ). Among different doses of bio-fertilizers application the highest fresh weight of knobs (140.64 g), dry weight of knobs (8.26 g), knob diameter (6.70 cm), yield (15.63 t ha ), and nutrient status were observed in F (50 % NPK + 6 kg/ha biofertilizer) treatment. In case of combination, V 2 F 3 3 combination treatment gave the highest fresh weight of knobs (150.67 g), yield (16.74 t ha -1 ), magnesium content (0.98 %), potassium content (3.18 %), manganese content (34.98 %) and Vitamin C content (33.33 mg 100 g ) in kohlrabi comparable to other treatment combination. Therefore, it was suggested that cultivation of Challenger variety along with application of 50 % NPK + 6 kg/ha biofertilizer (V 2 F ) combination treatment would help to influenced plant growth and increase its ability to enhanced better yield and quality production of kohlrabi.