Thakuria, R KKalita, Pujashree2023-11-182023-11-182021https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810201478A field experiment was conducted at Instructional-cum-Research Farm, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat in rabi season of 2019–20 and 2020–21 to study the “Drip fertigation in broccoli (Brassica oleracia var. italica)”. The experiment consisted of 4 drip irrigation levels viz., I1: 1.20 ETc (120% ETc), I2: 1.00 ETc (100% ETc), I3: 0.80 ETc (80% ETc) and I4: 0.60 ETc (60% ETc) and 4 fertilizer levels applied as drip fertigation viz., F1: 100% RD of N, P and K, F2: 75% RD of N, P and K, F3: 50% RD of N, P and K and F4: No fertilizer (control). The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with 3 replications. The soil of the experimental site was sandy loam in texture, moderately acidic in reaction, medium in organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content. The broccoli hybrid ‘Green Magic’ was transplanted on 18 and 21 December in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The crop was harvested from 09–21 March 2020 and 15–24 March 2021, respectively. The results revealed that irrigation level I1: 1.20 ETc recorded significantly higher growth and yield parameters like plant height, number of leaves per plant, plant spread, head yield, biological yield, total head yield and harvest index, however, it was at par with treatment I2: 1.0 ETc in both the years of study and in pooled. However, the days to head initiation and maturity and IWUE were highest with I4: 0.6 ETc and stalk diameter and head diameter was recorded highest with I2: 1.0 ETc which was at par with treatment I1:1.20 ETc. Drip irrigation at 120% ETc (I1) recorded the highest plant water content and relative leaf water content at all the growth stages during both the years of experimentation. The highest values of N, P, K content and uptake in head, stem and leaves along with total uptake by plant, available N, P2O5 and K2O content in soil after harvest were recorded with I1: 1.20 ETc which was also at par with the treatment I2: 1.0 ETc. In pooled analysis, similar trend was observed. Fertility level F1: 100% RD of NPK and F2: 75% RD of NPK through drip was found at par with each other during both the years of study. The pooled data of Fertility level F1 also recorded the highest growth and yield attributes along with the highest N, P, K content and uptake in head, stem and leaves and total uptake by the plant accompanied by the highest available N, P2O5 and K2O content in soil after harvest of the crop. The two years study on different levels of drip irrigation and fertilizer was capable to show significant response on growth and yield of broccoli. Drip irrigation at 120% ETc with 100% RD of NPK showed the maximum net return (Rs. 392606) and B:C (4.95) followed by drip irrigation at 100 % ETc + 75% RD of NPK with respective values of Rs. 295286 and 4.01. Thus, resource conservation (water and fertilizer) point of view, drip irrigation at 100 % ETc in combination with 75% RD of NPK may be considered optimum for broccoli crop in Assam.EnglishThesis