Assessing the influence of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield of Black gram (Vigna mungo L.)

The present study was undertaken to observe the effect of combined application of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and yield contributing characters of black gram. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The experiment comprises eight treatments viz. Control (no application of manures and fertilizer), Recommended doses of fertilizer (RDF), Cowdung @ 5 t ha-1 + 50% of RDF, Poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1 + 50% of RDF, Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + 50% of RDF, Cowdung @ 5 t ha-1 + Poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1 + 50% of RDF, Cowdung @ 5 t ha-1 + Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + 50% of RDF and Poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1 + Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + 50% of RDF. Combined application of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers exerted significance influence on growth, yield and yield contributing characters of black gram. At growth, the tallest plant (38.74 cm), the highest number of leaves plant-1 (15.55), leaf dry weight plant-1 (6.99 g) and stem dry weight plant-1 (3.01 g) of black gram at 50 days after sowing (DAS) were obtained from poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1 and vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 along with 50% of RDF. While, at 50 DAS, the highest number of nodules plant-1 (55.22) was recorded from cowdung @ 5 t ha-1 along with 50% of RDF and the highest number of SPAD value plant-1 (42.03) was found in poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1 along with 50% of RDF. Again, at maturity, the highest number of seeds pod-1 (5.86), yield plant-1 (7.77 g), grain yield m-2 (130.70 g) and total dry weight plant-1 (17.21 g) were obtained from poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1 and vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 along with 50% of RDF. Therefore, it can be concluded that poultry manure @ 5 t ha-1 and vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 along with 50% of RDF combination might be a promising practice for black gram cultivation

Yield and Yield Components of Maize as Affected by Planting Density

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of planting density on growth, development, yield and yield components contributing characteristics of maize during the period of November, 2012 to March 2013 in the Research Field and Laboratory of Crop Physiology and Ecology Department, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. The experimental area belongs to Old Himalayan Piedmont Plain (AEZ-1) of Bangladesh having sandy loam soil with pH 6.1. The experimental treatments were five plant spacing (S1=75 cm X 25 cm, S2=75 cm X 20 cm, S3=60 cm X 25 cm, S4=65 cm X 20 cm and S5=50 cm X 25 cm) corresponding to 35,000, 50,000, 60,000, 80,000, 95,000 plants ha-1 respectively with one maize variety. The experiment was laid out in a single factor Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications. The experiment plots were divided into four blocks each representing a replication. Growth parameters, some phenological parameters such and some yield and yield attributes increased with decreased in plant the plant population. The highest grain yield of 5.65 t/ ha was produced at (S5) high planting density (95,000 plants ha-1) and the lowest grain yield of 4.21 t/ha was produced at (S1) lowest planting density (35,000 plants ha-1). &nbsp