Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality parameters of cauliflower

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out at Experiment Farm, Udai Pratap Autonomous College, Varanasi (UP), India. Cauliflower growth, yield and quality can be boosted with the use of integrated nutrient management. Due to their complementing effects, the ideal combination of different organic and inorganic sources of nutrients may significantly boost cauliflower growth and yield. The experiment consisted of 11 treatments viz. T1: Recommended dose of NPK (150:100:80 kg/ha), T2: Half dose of NPK/ha + FYM @ 15 tonnes/ha, T3: Half dose of NPK/ha + Azospirillium @ 5 kg/ha, T4: Half dose of NPK/ha + FYM @ 15 tonnes/ha + Azospirillium @ 5 kg/ha, T5: Half dose of NPK/ha + VAM @ 5 kg/ha, T6: Half dose of NPK/ha + FYM @ 15 tonnes/ha + VAM @ 5 kg/ha, T7: Half dose of NPK/ha + FYM @ 15 tonnes/ha + Azospirillium @ 5 kg/ha + VAM @ 5 kg/ha, T8: Half dose of NPK/ha + Vermicompost @ 2.5 tonnes/ha, T9: Half dose of NPK/ha + Vermicompost @ 2.5 tonnes/ha + Azospirillium @ 5 kg/ha, T10: Half dose of NPK/ha + Vermicompost @ 2.5 tonnes/ha + VAM @ 5 kg/ha, T11: Half dose of NPK/ha + Vermicompost @ 2.5 tonnes/ha + Azospirillium @ 5 kg/ha + VAM @ 5 kg/ha. The highest curd yield (265.65 g), curd diameter (17.99 cm), curd weight (943.55 g) and curd volume (758.62) with maximum net profit (Rs.1,57,757/ha) was obtained from T11 treatment. All traits had a significant positive correlation with all traits excluding TSS and Ascorbic acid, TSS showed a significant positive correlation with curd diameter whereas ascorbic acid had a significant positive correlation with plant height, plant spread, curd yield and TSS. So, economic analysis revealed that T11 treatment appeared to be the best for achieving the higher growth, yield and economic benefit of cauliflower.