Impact of Fertilizer and Mulch on Growth, Yield and Quality of Carrot in Arecanut Cropping System Under Conservation Agriculture Practices

This study aims to comprehensively assess the influence of conservation agriculture techniques, encompassing reduced tillage, cover cropping (live mulch) and nutrient levels on a range of growth parameters and the ultimate yield of crop. As per the principles of conservation agriculture i.e., soil was disturbed minimally, berseem mulch was incorporated in the experiment and carrot was raised under arecanut plantation during rabi and it was succeeded by mint crop in pre-kharif season. Experiment was laid out in Randomized block design with seven treatments of different nutrient doses and mulch replicated thrice. Field experiments were conducted across two growing seasons i.e., 2019-20 and 2020-21 during Rabi (Winter) at Balindi research farm, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur. Precise measurements and meticulous analyses were conducted on key parameters; Vegetative growth i.e., plant height and number of leaves, yield attributing parameters like root length, diameter, weight and total yield of crop. TSS and beta carotene was also estimated. These parameters unequivocally indicate that conservation agriculture practices exert a substantial influence on both the growth and yield. Among various nutrient levels, higher dose of fertilizer (T4 - 120:90:120 NPK kg ha-1) with berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) as a cover crop in the interspaces showed maximum vegetative growth i.e., plant height and number of leaves plant-1 at all growth stages (30, 60 and 90 DAS) while decreasing trend was observed in yield parameters with higher levels of nutrient doses, medium level of fertilizer dose (T5 - 90:60:90 kg ha-1 + berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) recorded highest root length, diameter, weight and projected yield of 18.5cm, 3.58 cm, 118.37 g plant-1 and 26.63 t ha-1 respectively. These findings underscore the considerable potential of conservation agriculture practices as a sustainable approach to optimize carrot crop production. This research contributes valuable scientific insights that hold significant implications for agricultural stakeholders, including farmers and practitioners, seeking to fine-tune carrot cultivation methodologies while concurrently fostering soil health and environmental sustainability.