Effect on soil health of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) cultivation with Integrated Nutrient Management

Abstract

Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L. (Cauliflower) is an important commercial vegetable crop grown all over the world. In order to meet the growing demand of burgeoning population, large amounts of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers are being applied to the fields every year to achieve maximum production leading to deleterious environmental effects.The present investigation 'Integrated nutrient management in cauliflower was undertaken at the Instructional Farm of Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Latur during the Rabi season. The experiment laid out in Randomized Block Design (R.B.D.) with fourteen treatments replicated thrice. The treatment comprises with RDF (120:80:40 NPK kg/ ha.), FYM (10 t/ha), Azotobacter and Azospirillum (10 kg/ha). The variety Snowball -16 was selected for the study. The data regarding soil analysis after harvesting, the maximum available nitrogen (265.66 kg ha -1 ), available phosphorus (23.26 kg ha -1 ) and available potassium (415.33 kg ha -1 ) were recorded in highest dose of INM i.e. 100 % RDF + FYM + Azotobacter + Azospirillum(T 2 ) and is was statistically at par with T 6 and T 8 . The maximum organic carbon (0.93 per cent) was recorded in the treatment 75 % RDF + FYM + Azotobacter + Azospirillum(T 6 ). There were no significant differences of INM treatments observed on soil pH and electrical conductivity. This result suggested that 25% chemical fertilizers can be reduced without any compromise on fertility status of the soil for cauliflower crop production in sub-tropical condition.

Growth, Yield and Quality of Cauliflower as Influenced by Different Sources of Nutrients and Mulching in Indo- Gangatic Plains of Western Uttar Pradesh

“…This might be attributed to timely supply of nutrients particularly nitrogen which is required for vegetative growth of plant in this treatment. These finding are in close conformity with result of Moniruzzaman et al [13], Salim et al [9] in cauliflower, Easmin et al [14] in chinease cabbage Pawar et al [15] in cauliflower. The increase in number of leaves was due to sufficient soil moisture near root zone and minimized the evaporation loss due to mulching.…”

Influence of Inorganic Fertilizers in Conjunction with Organic Manures on Growth, Yield and Quality of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. Italica)

“…) availability in soil was found in treatment T 4 (50% RDN + 50% N as VC) whereas minimum available phosphorus and potash was noted in treatment T 1 (Control). Pawar et al [20] noted that the causes of the increased availability of phosphorus in soil might be due to the decomposition of organic matter and the solubilization of phosphorus from the native soil pool. Similar observations were recorded by Narayanamma et al [21] and Sarangthem et al [22].…”