Vol. 9, Issue 3 (2020)

Author(s):
Kanda Jena and CR Mohanty

Abstract:
A field trial was conducted during the period from October, 2013 to January, 2015 to study the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus on growth and quality of Bermuda lawn grass (Cynodon dactylon) cv. Selection-1 and to determine the most suitable dose for establishment and maintenance of a quality lawn. In the present investigation three levels of nitrogen viz., 10, 20 and 30 g/m², three levels of phosphorus viz., 5, 10 and 15 g/m² and a fixed dose of potassium viz., 5 g/m² were tried along with untreated control (viz., N 0, P 0 and K 0) comprising of 10 different combinations. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were applied as urea (46.0 % N), single super phosphate (16.0 % P₂O₅), and muriate of potash (60.0 % K₂O) respectively. The textural class of the soil of the experimental site was sandy loam with a pH of 5.82. The chemical analysis of the soil indicated that it contained 80 kg/ha available nitrogen 51 kg/ha available phosphorus, 517 kg/ha, exchangeable potassium and 1.34 % organic carbon. Stem cuttings of Bermuda turf were planted in the experimental plots with basal application of 200 g/m² vermicompost. Phosphorus was applied in a single dose along with 25 % each of N and K after three months of planting. Rest N and K were applied in three equal splits @ 25 % at three months interval. Observations were recorded on various growth and quality parameters. The result of the study revealed that significant differences existed among various treatments with respect to most of the parameters which recorded lowest values under untreated control viz., N₀, P₀ and K₀ and increased with increasing doses of fertilizer and the maximum values were recorded with the highest dose of fertilizer treatment viz., 30-15-5 g of NPK/m². Parameters like clipping shoot length, stem thickness, internodal length, leaf length, shoot density and leaf chlorophyll content showed significant improvement under the highest dose of fertilizer viz., 30-15-5 g NPK/m² over control viz., N₀, P₀ and K₀ during all the observations and other lower doses of fertilizer during most of the observations recorded at different times. In case of stem thickness except the highest dose of fertilizer treatment which recorded the maximum value, no significant difference was noticed among control and other lower doses of fertilizer treatments. Based on the result it was concluded that a dose of 30-15-5 of NPK/m² was the most suitable dose for establishment and maintenance of a quality lawn developed from Bermuda lawn grass, cv.Selection-1.