Synergistic Effects of Organic Fertilizer on Growth, Yield and Economic Benefits of Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) under Coastal Area of Bangladesh

Abstract

Radish, Raphanus sativus L., is a significant root crop consumed as a vegetable worldwide for its nutritional value. In Bangladesh, farmers often rely on excessive use of chemical fertilizers to meet production demands, which can negatively affect environmental and human health. As a sustainable alternative, a field experiment was conducted at the Department of Agriculture, Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU), Sonapur, Noakhali, to evaluate the effects of different doses of organic fertilizer on radish growth and yield. The experiment was laid out in a randomised complete block design with three replications and five treatments: T0 (no fertilizer), T1 (organic fertilizer 5 t ha-1), T2 (organic fertilizer 10 t ha-1), T3 (organic fertilizer 15 t ha-1), and T4 (organic fertilizer 20 t ha-1). The maximum plant height (43.03 cm), number of leaves per plant (16.86), leaf length (34.31 cm), leaf diameter (8.69 cm), root length (19.56 cm), root diameter (3.64 cm), fresh root weight (145.76 g), yield per plot (8.16 kg), gross yield (40.81 t ha-1), and marketable yield (40.81 t ha-1) were recorded in treatment T4. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships among the measured growth and yield traits. The highest net return (Tk. 353150 ha-1) and benefit-cost ratio (BCR 2.36) were obtained from treatment T4. These results indicate that 20 t ha-1 organic fertilizer improved radish growth, yield, and yield-contributing characteristics under the study conditions. Further research is recommended to optimise organic fertilizer doses for radish cultivation in coastal zones.