Determining the Effect of Different Organic Nutrient Sources on the Growth and Yield of Radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Abstract

Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers is a common practice which is hazardous both for soil health and environment. Chemical fertilizers have been widely used due to their immediate availability of nutrients; however, their long-term effects on soil and crop sustainability necessitate alternatives such as organic fertilizers. It has been more than three decades that global agriculture has been depicted towards organic agriculture owing to sustainability and reduced environmental effects. A field experiment was conducted at Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Lamjung Campus from December 2022 to February 2023, with the objective to study the effect of various sources of organic manure on the growth and yield of radish.  The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Design using 7 treatments (Control, Farm Yard Manure(FYM), Poultry Manure(PM), Goat Manure, FYM + Poultry Manure, FYM + Goat Manure, Poultry Manure + Goat Manure) with 3 replications of each. Tokinashi variety of radish was used in the experiment. Radish is an important root vegetable known for its nutritional value and quick growth cycle, making it a key crop for studying the impacts of organic manure. Experiment was done in field with the plot size of (2 x 1) m² and spacings of 30 cm x 20 cm with the total land area of 90 m². The growth and yield of radish were significantly affected by the different treatments. The highest total root yield (204.33) and biological yield (263.67) was found in Poultry manure. The study suggested that the application of poultry manure was more beneficial and resulted in significantly better growth and yield performance of radish.