Field trials were conducted on tomato for yield and quality of fruits using different types of organic and inorganic fertilizers at the horticulture farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh. Fertilizer treatments were tested on two varieties of tomato ca. Roma VF and BARI 15. The fertilization treatments were T1, vermicompost (12 t/ha); T2, compost (10 t/ha); T3, integrated plant nutrient system (IPNS) or mixed fertilizers (organic 2/3 part and inorganic 1/3 part); T4, inorganic fertilizers; and a control (T5). Results showed growth and yield (20.8 t/ha) in tomato were higher in the IPNS treatment. A higher number of fruits per plant (73.7) and plant height (73.5 cm) were obtained from mixed fertilizers (organic 2/3 + inorganic 1/3) or IPNS (integrated plant nutrient system) in Roma VF than other treatments. Fruit yield and diameter were found statistically significant. No significant difference was observed in the quality (total soluble solids) of tomato fruits in both varieties’ response to the treatments. The electrical conductivity and pH of the soil were improved by the application of organic manure.

The impact of chemical farming and the negative consequences on the environment and human health in Bangladesh are on the rise. Organic farming is gaining attention and increasing globally because it is eco-friendly, safe and has benefits for human health. A field study was conducted at the horticulture farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh, to evaluate the growth and yield performance of cabbage cv. Atlas—70 using organic and inorganic fertilizers in various plant spacing arrangements. Two factor experiments were conducted on plant spacings of 60 cm × 40 cm (S₁), 60 cm × 50 cm (S₂) and 60 cm × 60 cm (S₃) and fertilizers vermicompost (T₁), biogen (T₂), integrated plant nutrient system (IPNS) Organic (⅔) + inorganic (⅓) (T₃) and inorganic (T₄). IPNS (T₃) application increased the marketable yield (54.77 t·ha⁻¹) of cabbage. The highest marketable yield (48.75 t·ha⁻¹) was obtained with a plant spacing of 60 cm × 40 cm (S₁). No significant variation was found in plant spacings S₁ and S₂. The treatment combination of S₂T₃ recorded the highest plant height (37.81 cm), plant spread (47.75 cm), cabbage head (21.80 cm), stem length (12.31 cm), thickness of the cabbage head (12.53 cm) and marketable yield (65.0 t·ha⁻¹). The results suggest that IPNS (T₃) combining organic and inorganic fertilizer applications with a 60 cm × 50 cm spacing (S₂T₃) increases the yield performance of cabbage.

Purpose: Cabbage is important fresh vegetable crop in most of the countries of the world. The experiment was conducted to evaluate the growth and yield of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. cv. Atlas-70) as influenced by organic and inorganic fertilizers, and mulching. Research methods: The experiment comprised of two different factors such as, factor-A; four different types of fertilizers viz. F0 (control, no fertilizer), F1 (vermicompost), F2 (inorganic fertilizer), and F3 (mixed of organic and inorganic fertilizer) and factor-B; types of mulches viz. M0 (control, no mulch), M1 (water hyacinth), M2 (rice straw), M3 (black polythene). This two factors experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Findings: Significant variation was found among the treatments. Result showed F3M3 (combination organic and inorganic fertilizer with black polythene) had the highest growth (plant height, stem length, root length, number of roots etc.) and yield (105.93 t/ha) in cabbage. The yield was 63.92% higher from the combined effect of fertilizer and mulch as black polythene (F3M3) compared to control (F0M0). So, mineral fertilizer and vermicompost with black polythene had the best performance considering the growth and yield of cabbage. Research limitations: Evaluation of different ratios of organic and inorganic fertilizers with mulching could have better outcome or findings of this work. Originality/Value: Combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers with black polythene as mulch have showed the highest growth and yield outcome of cabbage compared to other treatments combinations.This work has the opportunity to reduce the application of inorganic fertilizer to improve the soil health and environment in long run.

The experiment was carried out at the Horticulture Farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh to investigate the influence of organic and inorganic fertilizers with irrigation intervals on the growth and yield of carrot during November, 2016 to March, 2017. Different days interval irrigation were applied namely no irrigation (I0), 7 days interval (I7), 15 days interval (I15) and 30 days interval (I30). Organic and inorganic fertilizers were given as treatments like control (no fertilizer) (F0), vermicompost (F1), mixed fertilizer (2/3 vermicompost + 1/3 inorganic fertilizer) (F2), inorganic fertilizer (F3). The experiment was laid out in RCBD (randomized complete block design) with three replications. Irrigation interval treatments showed significant influence on growth and yield related parameters of carrot. Plant height, other growth related parameters and yield were found significantly different considering the effect of irrigation and fertilizers treatments. Considering the effect of irrigation, the highest and the lowest plant height was obtained 45.35 cm and 39.77 cm from 7 days interval irrigation and control, respectively. The highest marketable yield (42.47 t/ha) was found from 7 days irrigation interval and it was 27.40% higher compared to control (30.83 t/ha). Mixed of organic and inorganic fertilizer (F2) gave the highest plant height (47.58 cm) and the lowest plant height (35.08 cm) was found from the control treatment. Gross yield and marketable yield per hectare were higher 21.21% and 22.03% in F2 compared to control treatment. Considering the treatment combination, irrigation at 7 days interval with mixed fertilizer (I7F2) produced the highest plant height (50.42 cm), number of leaves (11.67), diameter of root (3.90 cm), length of root (23.20 cm), fresh weight of individual root (106.20 g), gross yield (53.66 t/ha) and marketable yield (46.91 t/ha). The lowest plant height (32.75 cm), number of leaves (7.83), diameter of root (3.10 cm), length of root (13.00 cm), fresh weight of individual root (65.00 g), gross yield (32.00 t/ha) and marketable yield (26.72 t/ha) were found from the treatment combination of no irrigation with no fertilizer (I0F0). Gross yield and marketable yield per hectare were 40.37% and 43.04% higher, respectively in irrigation at 7 days interval with mixed fertilizer than other treatments combination. Irrigation interval at 7 days with mixed fertilizer had the most positive effect for the production of carrot. J Bangladesh Agril Univ 17(3): 338–343, 2019

The experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of different rooting media on rooting performance, plant growth and development of two varieties of Pitahaya (dragon fruit) cuttings at the Fruit Tree Improvement Project (FTIP), Germplasm Centre (GPC) of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh during the period from May 2014 to August 2014. The two factors experiment consisted with of two different varieties of dragon fruit viz., BAU Dragon fruit-1 (V1) and BAU Dragon fruit-2 (V2) with 14 rooting media. viz. control (soil 100%) (T0), 50% cow dung + 50% soil (T1), Saw dust (100%) (T2), Compost (100%) (T3), 50% soil + 50% sand (T4), 50% soil + 50% saw dust (T5), Sand (100%) (T6), Indole-3 Acetic Acid (IAA) 500 ppm solution + soil (100%) (T7), 300 ppm solution + soil (100%) (T8), 200 ppm solution of IAA + soil (100%) (T9), 500 ppm solution of Indole-3 Butyric Acid (IBA) + soil (100%) (T10), 300 ppm solution IBA + soil (100%) (T11), 200 ppm solution IBA + soil (100%) (T12), (IBA+IAA) 200 ppm solution of each + soil (100%) (T13). All the parameter showed significant effect except number of branches per plant. In case of variety less time was needed for first root initiation (22.33 days) with the longest plant height (34.02 cm). The better result regarding number of roots per cutting (6.00) was found in case of BAU dragon fruit-2 (V2) where the highest root length (15.22 cm). In case of different treatment, the better result regarding number of roots per cutting (8.17) at 100 DAP was counted from the combination of (IAA+IBA) 200 ppm solution + soil (100%) (T13). The highest root length (25.38 cm) was observed in IAA 200 ppm solution + soil (100%) (T9). In case of combined effect, the minimum time was required for first root initiation (20.78 days) with IAA 300 ppm solution + soil (100%) (T8). The highest root length (25.87 cm) was observed in BAU Dragon fruit-1 with IAA 200 ppm solution + soil (100%) (V1T9). Number of roots per cutting was noticed (9.67) in BAU Dragon fruit-2 200 ppm solution of each IAA and IBA + soil (100%) (V2T13).Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.3(1): 67-77, April 2016

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of some postharvest treatments on shelf life and quality of mango. Experiment was conducted at the BAU Germplasm centre, Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during May to July, 2013. Two treatments viz. Aloe vera and Chitosan solution were used for this study. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) to observe the post-harvest performance of mango with three replications. The fruits were divided into three grades eg. large, medium and small for the convenience of the experiment. In each group mango were treated with Aloe vera gel and Chitosan solution in three different concentrations of 0.5%, 1% and 1.5%. Amropali cultivar had the highest shelf life (7days) at 1.5% Aloe vera gel treatment to the large size mangoes at room temperature compare to other sizes and treatments. Nearly, similar effect was obtained from 1.5% Aloe vera gel to the medium size fruits than other treatments. 1.5% Chitosan showed the second best result in case of shelf life extension followed by 1% Chitosan solution. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.3(2): 279-286, August 2016