Effect of different organic manures on growth, yield, and quality of late season radish (Raphanus sativus) in Paklihawa, Rupandehi, Nepal

Abstract Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is a major root vegetable crop in Nepal. Organic manures are an indispensable substitute for the highly toxic inorganic fertilizers. A research experiment was conducted at the horticulture farm of Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Paklihawa campus, Rupandehi, Nepal to investigate the effect of different organic manures on the growth, yield, and quality of Tokinashi variety of late-season radish. The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The seven different treatments were farm yard manure (FYM) (30 t ha-1), poultry manure (20 t ha-1), FYM (15 t ha-1) + poultry manure (10 t ha-1), FYM (15 t ha-1) + vermicompost (2.5 t ha-1), vermicompost (5 t ha-1), FYM (15 t ha-1) + Bone meal (5 t ha-1), and control (without use of organic manures). Poultry manure was observed significant effect on the growth and yield attributes of radish. The effect of poultry manure over other treatments, viz. plant height (31.17 cm), number of leaves (20.53), shoot length (29.68 cm), crown spread (51.4 cm), root length (28.6 cm), root diameter (10.81 cm), average root weight (130.2 gm), average shoot weight (71 gm), root dry weight (125.33 gm), harvest index (64.85%), shoot yield per hectare (16.22 t ha-1), biological yield per hectare (50.3 t ha-1), root yield per hectare (23.87 t ha-1), and total soluble solid (1.13 0Brix) were recorded maximum at harvest (77 days after sowing). The ascorbic acid was recorded maximum (0.181 mg ml-1) in vermicompost. It can be concluded that poultry manure can be used for higher yield for late-season radish cultivation under Rupandehi, Terai condition of Nepal.