Effect of dates of planting and plant spacing on growth and yield of broccoli (B. oleracea (L.) var. italica) cv. green magic under Marathwada condition

Abstract

The field experiment was conducted during autumn-winter (September to January) season of 2023-24 at Department of Horticulture, College of Horticulture, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, Maharashtra (431402), India. Treatments comprised of three planting dates viz., D1- 30th September, D2- 15th October, D3- 30th October and three spacing viz., S1- 60 x 45 cm, S2- 60 x 60 cm, S3-60 x 75 cm, were assessed in factorial randomized block design with three replications. The broccoli transplanted on 30th September reported significantly maximum yield of main curd per hectare (11.83 t), yield of lateral curd per hectare (7.67 t), total yield (19.50 t ha-1), while wider spacing S3- 60 x 75 cm showed higher yield components like yield of main curd per hectare (11.61 t), yield of lateral curd per hectare (6.74 t), total yield (18.35 t ha-1), and maximum plant height (68.42) were recorded from a closer spacing of S1- 60 x 45 cm. Treatment combination D1S1 (30th September 2023 with a spacing of 60 cm x 45 cm) recorded maximum plant height (72.72) and yield of main curd per hectare (13.58 t), yield of lateral curd per hectare (8.58), total yield (22.16 t ha-1). Whereas, treatment combination D1S1 (30th September 2023 with a spacing of 60 cm x 45 cm) recorded minimum days required for 50% curd initiation (44.13). D1S3 (30th September 2023 with a spacing of 60 cm x 75 cm recorded highest number of leaves per plant (24.95), stem diameter (47.17), leaf area (702.16) and diameter of main curd (19.09).