EFFECT OF DIFFERENT GROWING MEDIA ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF VERTICALLY GROWN THAI BASIL ON ROOFTOP

Abstract

An experiment was carried out on the rooftop of Dr. M. Wazed Miah Central Laboratory, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka from January 2022 to March 2022 to find out the effect of different growing media on Thai basil plants. The experiment consisted of single factor; G 0 = 100 % soil, G 1 = 80 % soil + 20 % cowdung, G 2 = 60 % soil + 40 % cowdung, G 3 = 80 % soil + 20 % vermicompost, G 4 = 60 % soil + 20 % vermicompost + 20 % cocopeat, G 5 = 50 % soil + 30 % vermicompost + 20 % cocopeat, G 6 = 50 % soil + 40 % vermicompost + 10 % cocopeat, G 7 = 80 % soil + 10 % vermicompost + 10 % biochar and G 8 = 70 % soil + 10 % vermicompost + 10 % cocopeat + 10 % biochar. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data were recorded for different growth and yield parameters and significant variation was recorded for different treatment. Plant heights were measured at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 DAT. From the table it is observed that plant height increased with the advancement of time up to 50 DAT. The highest plant height at all the growth stages was recorded (17.96, 26.79, 31.26, 35.95 and 40.81 cm) in G 6 (50 % soil + 40 % vermicompost + 10 % cocopeat) followed by G 5 (50 % soil + 30 % vermicompost + 20 % cocopeat). In contrast, the lowest plant height was recorded (6.04, 8.27, 10.08, 13.48 and 16.82 cm) in G 0 (100% soil). Combination of cocopeat, vermicompost and soil media was most effective for vegetative growth as well as quantitative yield of Thai basil plants. Considering the yield performance, Thai basil showed the highest leaf yield per container (0.26 kg) was recorded from G 6 (50 % soil + 40 % vermicompost + 10 % cocopeat) followed by (0.23 kg) from G 5 (50 % soil + 30 % vermicompost + 20 % cocopeat).