STUDIES ON THE APPLICATION OF ORGANIC, INORGANIC FERTILIZERS AND THEIR COMBINATIONS ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF CAULIFLOWER (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis)
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Date
2017-11
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Studies on the application of organic, inorganic fertilizers and their
combinations on yield and quality of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) was carried out during Rabi
season of 2014-15 and 2015-16 in the Experimental Research Farm of the Department of Vegetable Science, Dr YS
Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. Twenty-five treatments
combination of organic (Vermicompost, Farmyard manure and Neem manure), inorganic (N, P and K) and biofertilizers
(Azotobacter and PSB) were replicated thrice in a plot having dimension of 3.00 m × 2.70 m. The
experiment was laid in Randomized Complete Block Design and a spacing of 60 cm × 45 cm was followed. The
seed of cauliflower cv. Pusa Snowball K- 1 was sown in nursery beds on 1st week of September during both the
years. Data was recorded on days taken to 50 per cent curding, plant height (cm), plant frame (cm), leaf area index
(cm2), number of leaves per plant, gross plant weight (g), leaf weight per plant (g), stalk length (cm), curd height
(cm), curd size (cm2), curd compactness, net curd weight (g),curd yield per plot (kg), yield per hectare (q), severity
of black rot (%), contents of vitamin A (μg/100 g), vitamin C (mg/100 g), protein (%), uptake of N, P, K (kg/ha) and
micronutrients viz., Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe (g/ha), available N, P and K (kg/ha) content in the soil before and after crop
harvest and Benefit: Cost ratio. The results revealed that treatment combination (T16) -100% RDF + Azotobacter
(5.0 kg/ha) + PSB (5.0 kg/ha) resulted in maximum growth and curd yield however, it was at par with the treatment
combination (T23) - RDF (33.3%) + FYM (33.3%) + NM (33.3%) + Azotobacter (5.0 kg/ha) + PSB (5.0 kg/ha). This
treatment also gave higher values for the characters like curd quality, uptake of N, P, K and micronutrients (Zn, Cu,
Mn and Fe), available N, P, K content in the soil after crop harvest and benefit: cost ratio consistently during both
the years. However, minimum values for all the characters studied were recorded when sole application of organic
manures and bio-fertilizers were applied .Thus, balanced integration of nutrients viz., organic manures and biofertilizers
with reduced dose of inorganic fertilizers sustains yield potential as well as maintains the soil health and
fertility with minimum severity of black rot.
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