INFLUENCE OF VARIOUS GROWING MEDIA ON GROWTH AND YIELD PERFORMANCE OF POTTED PAKCHOI: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

This study examines the impact of various growing media on potted pakchoi (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis) in the rooftop of Dr. M A Wazed Miah central laboratory of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University from December 2020 to February 2021 for increasing the quality and yield performance. Growing media viz., T₀ = Control, T₁ = Vermicompost + Soil (90:10), T₂ = Cocodust + Vermicompost + Soil (20:70:10), T₃ = Mushroom Spent Compost + Soil (90:10), T₄ = Vermicompost + Cowdung + Soil (45:45:10), T₅= Vermicompost + Mushroom Spent Compost + Soil (45:45:10), T₆ = Vermicompost + Mushroom Spent Compost + Cowdung + Soil (50:20:20:10) and T₇ = Vermicompost + Biochar + Soil (45:45:10) were used in this experiment arranged by Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Significant variations found among treatment. The maximum plant height (24.50 cm), Number of branches (20.00), leaf length(23.00 cm), Leaf breadth (13.00 cm),Fresh weight with and without root (415.00 gm, 410.00 gm), Root length (13.00 cm), Shoot diameter (8.90 cm), Stem diameter (1.10 cm), Stem length (4.00 cm) were found in T1 (Vermicompost + Soil) treatment but the maximum dry weight (12.36 gm)  and root weight (10.00 gm) were found from T₃ (Mushroom Spent Compost + Soil) treatment. A significantly higher yield (18.22 t ha^-1) was recorded from T₁ (Vermicompost + Soil) treatment while the lowest yield (1.67 t ha^-1) was recorded from T₇ (Vermicompost + Biochar + Soil) treatment. A mixture of soil and vermicompost resulted in higher growth, yield and profitability compared to other treatments.