An experiment was conducted to study the effect of different sources of nutrients on the growth and yield of Broccoli and Cauliflower during September 2004 to February 2005.
Experimental Site
The experiment was conducted at the Horticultural Farm and Laboratories of
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, during
the period from September 2004 to February 2005.
Plant Materials
Broccoli Brassica oleraceavar. italicasub var. cymosacv. ‘Premium crop’ (by Takki company of Japan) and Cauliflower Brassica oleraceavar. botrytis sub var. caulifloracv. ‘BARI 1’ (by BARI, Joydevpure, Gazipure) were used in the experiment.
Treatment of the experiment
The experiment consisted of two factors were as follows:
Factor A: Two cultivars of Broccoli and Cauliflower
i. Broccoli Brassica oleraceavar. sub var. cymosaitalicacv. ‘Premium crop’: (Br), by Takki company of Japan and
ii. Cauliflower Brassica oleraceavar. botrytis sub var. caulifloracv. ‘BARI 1’: (Ca), by BARI, Joydevpure, Gazipur.
Factor B: Manure and fertilizer management (Five levels)
i.Control (C0): No fertilizer was used
ii. Organic (C1): 20 ton CD/ha
iii. Inorganic fertilizers (C2): Urea 250 kg/ha, TSP 150 kg/hg and MP 200 kg/ha
iv. Organic + inorganic fertilizers + Agro-grow granular (C3): 10 ton CD/ha+ C2+20 kg Agro-grow granular/ha
v. Vermicompost (C4): 205 kg/ha was used in the experiment.
There were altogether 10 treatment combinations such as BrC0, BrC1, BrC2, BrC3, BrC4, CaC0, CaC1, CaC2, CaC3 and CaC4.
Experimental design and layout
The two factors experiment was laid out following Randomized Complete Block Desgin (RCBD) with three replications. An area of 24.5 m × 12.1 m was divided into three equal blocks.
Seed bed preparation, seed germination and raising of seedlings
The 3m x 1m in size seed bed was selected. Seeds were sown on 19 October, 2004. Complete germination of seed took place in seven days. When the seedlings were thirty seven days old they were transplanted in the experimental field on 25 November, 2004.
Transplanting of seedlings
Thirtysix days of old seedlings were transplanted on 25 november, 2005 in the afternoon
Harvesting
The compect matured curd were harvested. In case of Broccoli, after collecting the main curd, the secondary shoots were developed from the leaf axils, which also developed secondary curd and were harvested over a period of time. The crops under investigation was harvested for the first time on 28 January, 2005 and lasted on 25 February, 2005.
Data collection
Data were recorded on the following paramets from the sample plants during the course of experiment. Ten (10) plants were sampled randomly from each unit plot for the collection of data.
Marketable yield
It consisted of only quality curd yield of plant and was also calculated by converting the total yield per plot. In case of Broccoly, total marketable yield per hectare was calculated in ton by converting the total (Main yield + Secodary yield) curd yield per plot (t/ha).
Statistical analysis
The data collected from the experimental plots were statistically analyzed.