Effect of different NPK levels on growth and yield attributes of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L) under south Gujarat condition

Abstract

A three years field experiment was conducted to study the effect of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium levels on yield and growth attributes of Broccoli under South Gujarat condition. There were different nineteen treatments including control. Out of them, eighteen treatments comprising of three nitrogen levels [ 80 kg N ha-1 (N1), 120 kg N ha-1 (N2) and 160 kg N ha-1 (N3)] combined with three phosphorus levels [40 kg P2O5 ha-1 (P1), 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 (P2) and 80 kg P2O5 ha-1 (P3)] along with two levels of potassium [control (K1) and 60 kg K2O (K2)]. In control, only biocompost is applied @ 5t/ha. The experiment was laid out in factorial RBD with three replications. P fertilizer was applied 100% while N and Kfertilizer were applied 50% at the time of transplanting. Need based control measures were taken for the pest and disease management. The results revealed that the higher dose of N (N3- 160 kg N /ha) recorded significantly higher values of number of leaves (18.53) and plant height (37.68 cm) per plant of broccoli. The combination P3N3 (40.34 cm) and P3K2 (36.98 cm) recorded significantly higher plant height. The interaction effect of all the factors (N x P x K) was also found significant on average head weight and the combination (P3N3K1) recorded significantly higher average head weight (211 g) and remained at par with P3N3K2 (192 g). The treatment N3 (10181, 9902 and 6159 kg/ha) recorded significantly the higher head yield of broccoli, respectively during all the three years. The treatment combinationN3P3K2 (160:80:60) recorded significantly higher values of av. head weight, polar diameter and equatorial diameter of head as well as significantly highest head yield (10120 kg/ha) than rest of the treatment combinations.