Impact of Polyhouse on Production Potential of Bitter Gourd in Off-season

Abstract

In Bangladesh, the bitter gourd, which is a vegetable, is a wonderful source of magnesium, folate, zinc, phosphorus, and vitamins B1, B2, and B3. It also contains a high level of dietary fiber. From December 2020 to April 2021, an experiment was carried out in the field laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, to determine how the polyhouse and the local environment affected the growth and yield of bitter gourd during the off-season. It was a factorial experiment using RCBD (Randomized Completely Block Design), in which Factor A represented the impact of a polyhouse and Factor B represented the influence of the environment on the development and yield of bitter gourd during the off-season. Results showed that photochemically active radiation decreased within the polyhouse compared to the open area outside. In terms of soil temperature, soil moisture, and air temperature, a reverse trend was seen. In comparison to an open field during the winter, the polyhouse had higher air, soil, and soil moisture temperatures. Compared to plants cultivated in open fields, bitter gourd plants planted in poly houses had longer stems, more branches, blooms, and higher reproductive efficiency, which led to more fruit setting plants-1 and a higher fruit yield. Additionally, the fruit size in the polyhouse was greater than it was in the open field situation. In comparison to open fields, the fruit output of bitter gourd was approximately 2.5 times higher in polyhouses, which will be helpful to meet up the nutritional demand in the off-season.