Effect of Kitchen Waste Compost and Vermicompost in Combination with Chemical Fertilizer on the Production of Stem Amaranth

Abstract

The study was carried out at Horticulture Research Centre (HRC) field, Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Jamalpur, Bangladesh during April to June 2014 to determine the optimum dose of organic fertilizer in combination with inorganic fertilizer on yield and quality of stem amaranth. BARI Danta-1 (Laboni) was used in the study. Eight treatments were constructed with the fully matured compost for each evaluation, these were, T₁= Recommended dose of Chemical fertilizers (RD), T₂= Kitchen Waste Compost 3 t/ha + 2/3^rd of RD, T₃= Kitchen Waste Compost 3 t/ha + ½ of RD, T₄= Vermicompost 1.5 t/ha + 2/3^rd of RD, T₅= Vermicompost 1.5 t/ha + ½ of RD, T₆= Kitchen waste compost 3 t/ha, T₇= Vermicompost 1.5 t/ha, and T₈= No fertilizer. A wide range of variations was observed among the treatments by the effect of kitchen waste compost and vermicompost in combination with chemical fertilizer. Harvesting of BARI Danta-1 (Laboni) was started at 34 days after seed sowing and continued up to 46 days. Days to 50% plant flowering varied from 40.33 to 44.00 days, highest days was required in T₄. The T₁ treatment gained the higher number of leaves per plant (24.17) and lowest (20.83) in T₈ treatment. The highest whole single plant weight (761.00 g) observed in T₄ treatment whereas lowest (571.00 g) in T₈ treatment.  The tallest plant was observed in T₄ (85.37 cm) and lowest (77.00 cm) in T₁ treatment. The T₄ treatment produces the highest single stem weight (617.33 g) and lowest (457.33 g) in T₈ treatment. Wider base girth (3.96 cm) was noticed in T₅ and narrower (3.34 cm) in T₈ treatment.  The highest yield per hectare (57.47 t) was observed in T₄ treatment while the lowest yield per hectare (42.58 t) in T₈ treatment. The yield of stem amaranth was strongly correlated with the number of leaves per plant, whole single plant weight, plant height at harvest, single stem weight, base girth and fresh yield per plot. It is suggested that Vermicompost 1.5 t/ha + 2/3rd of RD is more favorable for vigorous growth of stem amaranth and also most suitable for soil environment but Vermicompost 1.5 t/ha + ½ of RD can be economically and environmentally suitable.