Influence of time of sowing and nutrient management on yield and quality of table beet in Bangladesh

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Field Laboratory, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh from November 2019 to March 2020 to find out the effect of date of sowing and nutrient management on the growth, yield and quality of table beet. The experiment comprised three dates of sowing, viz. 15 November 2019, 15 December 2019 and 15 January 2020, and five nutrient managements, viz. recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer (RDF) N-P-K @ 60-100-60 kg ha–1, respectively, 75% RDF + cowdung @ 10 t ha-1, 25% RDF + cowdung @ 10 t ha-1, 75% RDF + vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1, 25% RDF + vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Growth traits, yield components, yield and quality were significantly influenced by date of sowing, nutrient management and their interactions. The highest shoot length and leaf number and were recorded in early sowing on 15 November fertilized with 75% recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer + vermicompost @ 5 t ha–1. The highest root girth, root length, root yield, TSS (%) and value of vitamin c were recorded when the crop was sown on 15 November. Yield components, root yield and grain TSS (%) gradually decreased due to delay in sowing. In case of nutrient, the highest root girth, root length, root yield and value of TSS (%) were recorded when the crop was fertilized with 75% recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer + vermicompost @ 5 t ha–1. The highest value of ascorbic acid was recorded when fertilized with 25% RDF + vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1. Early sowing on 15 November fertilized with 75% recommended dose of inorganic fertilizer + vermicompost @ 5 t ha–1 was found to be promising practice for the cultivation of table beet under Old Brahmaputra Floodplain Soils of Bangladesh.