Nutrient management for quality seed production of broccoli in Assam

Abstract

The experiment was conducted during 2018–19 to evaluate the effect of different levels of nitrogen (80, 100, 120 kg/ha), potassium (60, 80 kg/ha) and method of nitrogen application (applied in 2 and 3 splits) on the seed quality and yield of broccoli variety Pusa Broccoli KTS-1′ in Assam condition having high sub-tropical humid with hot summer and cold winter. In two splits, 50% nitrogen was applied as basal and rest at 40 days after transplanting, and in three splits, 50% was applied as basal, 25% at 30 DAT and rest at flower initiation stage. The control included application of FYM only. The treatments significantly affected various crop growth and seed quality parameters viz., plant height; canopy spread; leaf length, width and chlorophyll content; head diameter; days to heading, flowering and seed maturity; number of siliquas/plants; number of seeds/siliqua; seed yield/plant; leaf NPK content; seed test weight; mean germination time, germination index and percent, seed vigour index-I and II, fresh and dry weight of seedling. High dose of nitrogen (120 kg/ha), potassium (80 kg/ha) and 3 split dosages of nitrogen application significantly enhanced various crop growth, seed yield and germination parameters, at the same time they reduced the time taken for heading, flowering and seed maturity. Higher dose resulted in higher leaf N, K and chlorophyll content that were again positively associated with plant growth and seed yield.