Vol. 12, Issue 3 (2023)

Author(s):
S Karak and U Thapa

Abstract:
The present experiment was conducted under protected conditions (naturally ventilated greenhouse) during Rabi season of the year 2020, in humid subtropical region of West Bengal under the Department of Vegetable Science, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidalayaya, Mohanpur, Nadia. The aim of the experiment was to find out the best performing growing media based on the evaluation of various growth, yield and quality parameters of fodder maize. The trial was laid out in Factorial Completely Randomized Design with six treatments, each replicated four times. The six treatments of different growing media consists of (viz: G₁ - Cocopeat, G₂ Vermicompost, G₃ -Vermiculite, G₄ Cocopeat and Vermicompost, G₅ - Vermiculite and Vermicompost and G₆ - Cocopeat + Vermicompost +Vermiculite) Statistical analysis of data revealed a significant effect of various growing media on days to emergence of fodder maize. The earliest days to emergence of 3.67 days was recorded when the maize fodder was raised in the mixture of Cocopeat: Vermicompost: Vermiculite in the ratios of 1:1:1. The highest plant height of 18.00cm was obtained when plants were grown in the mixture of Cocopeat+vermicompost. + Vermiculite. Lowest plant height of 13.17cm was obtained from cocopeat singly as growing media. Plants grown in the mixture of Cocopeat +Vermicompost + Vermiculite produced the highest of 1623.33g of green fodder amongst the other different growing media. The lowest green fodder of 1088.00g was recorded from the plants which were grown on cocopeat only. From the investigation it was concluded that the green fodder along with others parameters was found best when plants were grown in the mixture of Cocopeat+vermicompost. + Vermiculite.