Effect of Different Fertilizer Packages on the Performance of Jhum Crops

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at Hill Agricultural Research Station, Khagrachari, Bangladesh during May, 2014 to January, 2015 to study the effects of different fertilizer on the performance of jhum crops. Rice, marpha, maize, sweet gourd, sesame and arhar were used as the jhum test crops. The experiment was laid out in Latin Square Design (LSD). The treatments consisted of four levels of NPK fertilizers i.e. no fertilizer (Control), 40 kg N+25 kg P₂O₅+30 kg K₂O ha^-1, 80 kg N+50 kg P₂O₅+60 kg K₂O ha^-1 and 120 kg N+75 kg P₂O₅+90 kg K₂O ha^-1. The yield parameters and yields of jhum crops were significantly affected by fertilizer. NPK fertilizer plays a significant role on the yield of rice, marpha, maize, sesame, sweet gourd and arhar. The highest yield of rice (3.34 t ha^-1), marpha (984.8 kg ha^-1), maize (951.3 kg ha^-1), sweet gourd (1418.0 kg ha^-1), sesame (331.3 kg ha^-1) and arhar (349.9 kg ha^-1) were found in T₄ treatment that received 120 kg N+75 kg P₂O₅+90 kg K₂O ha^-1. On the other hand, lowest yield of rice (1.67 t ha^-1), marpha (453.8 t ha^-1), maize (517.5 t ha^-1), sweet gourd (781.3 t ha^-1), sesame (107.1 t ha^-1) and arhar (103.6 t ha^-1) were found in the treatment with no fertilizer.