Optimizing Irrigation Frequency For Maximizing Growth And Yield Of Radish ( Raphanus Sativus L ) Plants Treated With Compost And Chemical Fertilizers As Basal Application

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of irrigation frequency on the growth and yield of radish plants under two different basal fertilizer treatments which were chemical lertilizer and compost. This experiment was carried out in the Faculty of Technology of the Eastern Universiry Sri Lanka to assess the potential of water interval and fertilizer use on radish cultivation and its growth and yield. It was carried out in a factorial complete randomized design with six treatments. Each treatment was replicated six times. The experiment was conducted with three irrigation intervals: daily,2-day and 3-day irrigation intervals. The results showed that irrigation frequency significantly affected various growth parameters and yield components of radish plants. Compost-treated plants showed optimum results with irrigation at a T-day interval and the highest values were obtained for the plant height (21.79+0.51 cm), number of leaves (8) and leaf area (2I.79+0.51 cm2), fresh weight of the leaves (70.57+3.62 g), dry weight of the leaves (8.99+0.32 g), fresh u'eight of tuber (139.50+7,35 g), dry weight of tuber (10.04+0.48 g), tuber length (22.93+1.17 g) and tuber girth (12.50+0.53 cm) and yield (46.50*2.45 t/ha). Similarly, chemically fertilized plants irrigated with an inigation intervai of 2 days resulted in the highest plant height (19.96+0.62 cm), number of leaves (7), leaf area (19.96+0.62 cm2), fresh weight of leaves (59.90i.6.32 g), dry weight of leaves (7.80+0.32 g), fresh weight of tuber(113.22+6.13 g),dryweightoftuber(;.32+0.60g),tuberlength(19"6510.91 cm) and tuber girth (10.27r.0.61 cm) and yield (37.74+2.04 t/ha). Statistical analyses confirmed significant effects of both fertilizer type and irrigation frequency on the measured parameters (P<0.05), with compost treatments generally higher than chemical fertilizer treatments. The findings of this research demonstrate the critical role of irrigation frequency in optimizing the growth and yield of radish plants. In particular, a 2-day irrigation interval system with compost and chemical fertilizer treatments is more effective in improving growth parameters and yield components. Compost-treated plants showed superior groMh and high yieids compared to chemical fertilizers under the same irrigation conditions. Thus, to maximize the productiviry- of radish plants, it is recommended to apply compost with an irrigation schedule of 2- day. Further research couid further explore the underlying mechanistt:s that contribute to compost-treated piants' enhanced performance under optimal iriigation freciuencies.