Effect of Different Doses of Nutrients on Vegetative, Reproductive and Biochemical Parameters of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.) cv. F1 Amazing Hybrid

Abstract

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.) is a well-known winter vegetable crop which belongs to Cruciferae family. Cauliflower needs a large amount of macronutrients as they play role in the development and growth of curd. Therefore, a field experiment was executed to check the different sources of nutrients on vegetative, reproductive and biochemical parameters. Seven different concentrations of macronutrients i.e., Control (no fertilizer), N=150 kg/acre, P=100 kg/acre, K=100 kg/acre, NP=150 + 100 kg/acre, NK=150 + 100 kg/acre and NPK=150 + 100 + 100 kg/acre were applied to cauliflower and experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. Results indicated that maximum values for vegetative and reproductive parameters such as plant height, numbers of leaves per plant, leaf area, foliage fresh weight per plant, foliage dry weight per plant, curd weight, curd diameter, curd yield per hectare and chlorophyll contents (63.2 cm, 21 leaves/plant, 1233.9 cm2, 930 g/plant, 246 g/plant, 695.79 g, 15.26 cm, 25.20 tons/ha and 2.07 CCi respectively) were recorded in NPK treatment (150 + 100 + 100 kg/acre). Whereas, the lowest values were noted in control treatment (no fertilizer). However, total soluble  solids were noted maximum (6.49oBrix and 6.19oBrix) in NK (150+100 kg/acre) and NPK (150 + 100 + 100 kg/acre) treatments and vitamin C was maximum (46.35 mg/100ml and 45.67  mg/100ml) in the treatments NPK (150 + 100 + 100 kg/acre) and NK (150 + 100 kg/acre). From this study, it is concluded that application of NPK (150 + 100 + 100 kg/acre) is the recommended  dose for better growth, curd production and higher quality yield of cauliflower cv. F1 amazing hybrid.