A field experiment was conducted at South Surma upazila of Sylhet district to evaluate the effect of vermicompost, cowdung and inorganic fertilizers on the growth and yield of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) in acid soil. The experiment comprised of four treatments viz. T1 = 135-60-135-21-3-1.5 kg ha-1 of N-P-K-S-Zn-B, T2 = T1 + Cowdung (5 t ha-1), T3 = T1 + Vermicompost (5 t ha-1) and T4 = Vermicompost (10 t ha-1). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results on growth parameters recorded at 15, 30 and 45 DAT showed significant variation in different growth and yield contributing characters. The tallest plant (24.47 cm) was recorded at 45 DAT in T3 treatment. The same treatment at 30 DAT produced the highest number of leaves plant-1 (8.33) while T4 had the lowest number of leaves plant-1 (5.93). The longest length and breadth of the largest leaf and spreading of plants were recorded 19.60, 10.03 and 16.53 cm at 45 DAT in T3, respectively. The highest curd yield (29.72 t ha-1) was recorded in T3 treatment. Post-harvest soil analysis showed higher amount of organic matter, total N, available P, exchangeable K and available S contents than in initial soil. This might be due to residual effect of vermicompost. The results revealed that vermicompost addition with recommended dose of chemical fertilizers T3 performed better compared to only inorganic fertilizers.

Keywords: Organic fertilizers, Inorganic fertilizers, Chemical composition of fertilizer and soil

The study on the shelf life and economic analysis of broccoli under different fertilizer treatments combinations were carried out both in the field and laboratory of Horticulture Department, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur, during 10 October 2007 to 28 February 2008. There were 13 treatments viz. control (no application of fertilizer) (T1), N45P30K50MO0.3(T2), N90P30K50MO0.3(T3), N135P30K50MO0.3(T4), N90P0K50MO0.3(T5), N90P60K50MO0.3(T6), N90P90K50MO0.3(T7), N90P30K0MO0.3(T8), N90P30K25MO0.3(T9), N90P30K75MO0.3(T10), N90P30K50MO0.0(T11), N90P30K50MO0.1(T12), and N90P30K50MO0.5(T13). Cowdung was applied @10 t ha-1 as basal dose in each case. The maximum shelf life (15.05 days) was observed with no application of inorganic fertilizer and kept at 40C in polythene bag wrapping the broccoli curd. The maximum gross return per hectare (Tk. 3, 66, 740 ha-1) and net benefit (Tk. 2, 56, 182 ha-1) were found in T4 (N135P30K50MO0.3) followed by T7 (N90P90K50MO0.3) (Tk. 3,36,380 and 2, 17, 457, respectively) and the minimum values (Tk. 1, 22, 100 and 21,546, respectively) being noted in T1 (control). The highest cost benefit ratio (3.32) was found in T4 (N135P30K50MO 0.3). Considering the yield of broccoli and the benefit cost ratio, nutrient application of N, P, K, and Mo @ 135, 30, 50, and 0.3 kg ha-1, respectively are the optimum doses for growing broccoli in shallow Red-Brown Terrace Soil of Salna series, Gazipur.

Keywords: Shelf life, broccoli, benefit cost ratio, inorganic fertilizers, net benefit