EFFECT OF NPK AND SULPHUR ON GROWTH, YIELD AND CHLOROPHYLL CONTENTS OF CAULIFLOWER (BRASSICA OLERACEA L).

Abstract

Cauliflower is cultivated all around the world for its high nutritional value. In Pakistan, there is dire need to optimize the nutritional supplementation of cauliflower. Therefore, a field experiment was carried out to see the impact of NPK and sulphur on growth, yield and chlorophyll contents of cauliflower. The experiment was laid out according to Randomized Complete Block Design having ten treatments replicated thrice. The experiment was consisted of five levels of NPK (13:17:17, 15:18:18, 16:18:18, 16:19:19 and 20:20:20) in combination with two sulphur levels (20g, 40g) and a control treatment (NPK 0:0:0) without sulphur having three replications. The results revealed that highest values of observed attributes i.e plant height (54.06 cm), numbers of leaves per plant (19.93), leaf area (10.93 cm2), foliage fresh weight (36.4 g), foliage dry weight (18.48 g), curd size (10.93 cm) and curd weight (839.84 g) were observed in (16:19:19) NPK in combination with 40 gplant-1 sulphur. While, minimum values were noted in control treatment. However, minimum days to curd formation (51.53) was observed in NPK (16:19:19) in combination with the sulphur (40 gplant-1). Chlorophyll contents (1.98 CCi), total soluble solids (13.13 oBrix) and vitamin C (56.81 mg100 g-1) were maximum in the treatment (16:19:19) NPK along with 40 gplant-1 sulphur. From this study, it is concluded that treatment (NPK 16:19:19 + Sulphur 40 g/plant) is the best optimal dose for the higher growth and production of cauliflower.