Effect of Potassium and Vermicompost on the Growth, Yield and Nutrient Contents of Mungbean (BARI Mung 5)

The experiment was conducted from February to April, 2013 at the experimental field of the farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University to study the effect of potassium fertilizer and vermicompost on growth, yield and nutrient contents of mungbean (BARI Mung 5). The two-factorial experiment was conducted by using RCBD (Randomized Completely Block Design) with three replications. During the experiment, following treatments were included: K0 -Control, K1-K2O @ 10 kg ha-1, K2- K2O @15 kg ha-1, K3 - K2O @ 20 kg ha-1 and V0- No Vermicompost, V1- Vermicompost @ 4 t ha-1, V2- Vermicompost @ 6 t ha-1, V3 – Vermicompost @ 8 t ha-1. Potassium and vermicompost doses as well as their interactions showed significant effect on growth and yield parameters. At harvest highest plant height, number of leaves and branches plant-1, average dry weight plant-1, number of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1, number of seeds plant-1, 1000-seed weight, seed yield and stover yield were recorded in K3 (K2O @ 20 kg ha-1) and it was either closely followed by or statistically similar with the application of K2O @15 kg ha-1 (K2) and subsequently followed by K1 (K2O @ 10 kg ha-1). N, P and K content in seed were recorded in K3 (K2O @ 20 kg ha-1) and it was followed by the application of K2O @15 kg ha-1 (K2) and then K1 (K2O @ 10 kg ha-1). Lowest results for above parameters were found from the treatment using no potassium fertilizer (K0). Similarly, the highest values for highest plant height, number of leaves and branches plant-1, average dry weight plant-1, number of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1, number of seeds plant-1, 1000-seed weight, seed yield and stover yield were recorded in V3 (vermicompost @ 8 t ha-1) which was either closely followed by or statistically similar with Vermicompost @ 6 t ha-1 and then followed by Vermicompost @ 4 t ha-1. Lowest results were found from the treatment using no vermicompost (V0).