Effect of Kitchen Waste Compost and Vermicompost in Combination with Chemical Fertilizer on the Production of Summer Bottle Gourd

Abstract

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 March to July 2014 to determine the optimum dose of organic fertilizers in combination with inorganic fertilizers on yield and quality of bottle gourd under Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). BARI Lau-4 was used in the study as the summer bottle gourd. Eight treatments were constructed with the fully matured compost for each evaluation, these were, T1=Recommended dose of Chemical fertilizers (RD), T2=Vermicompost 1.5 t/ha + 2/3rd of RD, T3=Vermicompost 1.5 t/ha + ½ of RD, T4= Kitchen waste 3.0 t/ha + 2/3rd of RD, T5= Kitchen waste 3.0 t/ha + ½ of RD, T6=Vermicompost 1.5 t/ha, T7=Kitchen waste 3.0 t/ha, and T8=No fertilizer. Organic manures alone or in combination with inorganic fertilizer significantly enhance vegetative growth of bottle gourd plants and substantially improves the fruit yield of the bottle gourd cultivars. An extensive range of significant variations was exhibited in the treatments by the application of kitchen waste compost and vermicompost in combination with chemical fertilizers for the production of summer bottle gourd. Days to 50% flowering varied from 45.33 to 50.67 days, highest days were required in the treatment T1 [Recommended dose of Chemical fertilizers (RD)]. The significantly higher number of fruits per plant (11.33) was observed from the treatment T2 (Vermicompost 1.5 t/ha + 2/3rd of RD) and the T8 treatment (No fertilizer) gave the lower number of fruits per plant (7.33). The average individual fruit weight also varied from 1.30 to 1.76 kg. The maximum average individual fruit weight (1.76 kg) noted from the treatment T2 (Vermicompost 1.5 t/ha + 2/3rd of RD) followed by T3 treatment (Vermicompost 1.5 t/ha + ½ of RD) (1.74 kg). Fruit yield per hectare was varied significantly and highest yield were found in T2 (Vermicompost 1.5 t/ha + 2/3rd of RD) (50.82 t/ha) followed by T3 (Vermicompost 1.5 t/ha + ½ of RD) (48.79 t/ha), respectively and lowest from the T8 (No fertilizer) treatment (28.55 t/ha). The correlation results indicated that the yield of BARI Lau-4 depends on the number of fruits per plant, individual fruit weight, yield per plant, and yield per plot. The present study clearly indicated the beneficial effect of integrated nutrient management on yield and quality characters of bottle gourd. Keeping view on yield sustainability, balance in the ecosystem, soil health improvement and good health of human beings it may be suggested that vegetable growers may supplement through the judicious and efficient use of inorganic fertilizers or kitchen waste compost and vermicompost, alone or in combinations.

Keywords: Bottle gourd, kitchen waste compost, vermicompost, chemical fertilizer, GAP

Cite this Article
H.Rahman, A Akter. Effect of kitchen
waste compost and vermicompost in
combination with chemical fertilizer on the
production of summer bottle gourd.
Research & Reviews: Journal of Crop
Science and Technology . 2019; 8(1 2-23 p).