Effects of organic manure and chemical fertilizers on crops in the radish-stem amaranth- Indian spinach cropping pattern in homestead area

The effect of organic manure and chemical fertilizers on vegetable crops and soil properties in the radish-stem amaranth-Indian spinach cropping pattern was studied in a homestead area of Gazipur district in Bangladesh. There were eight treatments poultry manure (PM) 5 t ha (T1), cowdung (CD) 10 t ha -1 (T2), household waste (HW) 10 t ha -1 (T3), PM 2.5 t ha -1 + reduced RDF (recommended dose of fertilizer) (T4), CD 5 t ha -1 + reduced RDF (T5), HW 5 t ha -1 + reduced RDF (T6), 100% RDF (T7) and Control (T8). The 100% RDF treatment (T7) gave the highest radish yield, however identical yield was obtained with T5 and T6 treatments. The maximum yield of stem amaranth and Indian spinach was obtained with T4 and T6 treatments, respectively. The highest N, P, K and S uptake was found in T7 for radish, T4 for stem amaranth and T6 for Indian spinach. Soil bulk density and organic carbon were improved due to application of organic manure. The highest nutrient availability was recorded with T4 treatment that was followed by T6. Among the treatments, the poultry manure 2.5 t ha -1 + reduced dose of recommended fertilizer and house hold waste 5 t ha + reduced dose of recommended fertilizer were found suitable for achieving sustainable vegetable crop yield as well as for susteanace of soil health at homestead area.