Soil fertility, growth and yield of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) as influenced by integrated nutrient management practices

Abstract

The present investigation entitled was carried out at the Research farm of the School of Agriculture, Abhilashi University, Mandi (H.P) during rabi season 2023-24. The research was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications and seven treatments. The result revealed that the maximum plant height (59.07cm), number of leaf (21.49) and length of leaf (31.14cm), were recorded under treatment T6 [Farm Yard Manure (50%) + Poultry Manure (25%) + Vermicompost (25%)] but, head initiation day after transplanting (50.31), head diameter(12.41 cm), weight of head (510.52 g), yield per plot(4.59 kg) and yield per ha (170 q) was recorded under treatment T5 [N: P: K (50%) + Farm Yard Manure (50%)].The higher soil pH (6.20) was recorded in treatment T6 [Farm Yard Manure (50%) + Poultry Manure (25%) + Vermicompost (25%)], the higher organic carbon (1.64) is recorded in treatment T3 [Vermicompost (100%)], higher water holding capacity were observed in treatment T2 [Farm Yard Manure (100%)]. The higher available N (247.83 kg/ha), P (35.41kg/ha) and K (274.68 kg/ha) were recorded under treatment T1 [N: P: K (100%)]. The highest gross return (₹ 5, 95, 537), net returns (₹ 4, 78, 616) were observed in treatment T5 [N: P: K (50%) + Farm Yard Manure (50%)]. Among all the treatments the highest B: C ratio (4.15:1) was observed in treatment T1 [N: P: K (100%)] as compare to treatment T5 [N: P: K (50%) + Farm Yard Manure (50%)] (4.09:1).