EFFECTS OF ORGANIC FARMING ON SOIL PROPERTIES  AND GROWTH OF RED AMARANTH

Nipa  Adhikary; Sonia  Nasrin; Samsunnahar; Md.  Hanif

doi:10.53808/KUS.2013.11and12.1221-L

Authors

Nipa Adhikary Soil Science Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh
Sonia Nasrin Soil Science Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh
Samsunnahar Soil Science Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh
Md. Hanif Soil Science Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53808/KUS.2013.11and12.1221-L

Keywords:

Organic farming, conventional farming, soil properties, growth, red amaranth.

Abstract

This study endeavors to determine the extent of influence of organic farming on soil properties and growth and yield of Red amaranth. It also compares between conventional and organic farming on Sonatola soil series of Non-calcareous, Dark Grey under the Old Brahmaputra Floodplain (AEZ 9) during Rabi season from January to February 2008. Treatments used for the experiments were no fertilizer, cowdung, poultry manure, synthetic fertilizer, cow-dung in combination with synthetic fertilizer and poultry manure in combination with synthetic fertilizer. From laboratory experiment it was found that except control site all types of treatments showed a significant positive effect on soil moisture, organic carbon, total N, available P and exchangeable K. Cow-dung and poultry manure treated plots conserve maximum amount of soil moisture, available P and exchangeable K. For soil organic carbon, poultry manure showed the best performance. Poultry manure in combination with synthetic fertilizer showed the best performance for total N content of soil. For improving soil properties and maintaining good soil quality poultry manure was the best and cowdung was better than conventional farming. Organic manure and its combination with synthetic fertilizer showed the best performance for plant height and shoot lenght. The highest yield and leaf area index were found with poultry manure alone and in combination with synthetic fertilizer treated plots. For growth and yield of Red Amaranth, poultry manure alone and in combination with synthetic fertilizer were
superior to conventional farming.

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