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 the rest at 40 days after transplanting, and in three split doses, 50% was used as basal, 25% at 30 DAT, and the rest at the flower initiation stage. The control included the 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; the number of siliquas/plants; the 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 doses of nitrogen (120 kg/ha), potassium (80 kg/ha), and three split dosages of nitrogen application significantly enhanced various crop growth, seed yield, and germination parameters while reducing the time taken for heading, flowering, and seed maturity. In addition, higher doses resulted in higher leaf N, K, and chlorophyll content that were again positively associated with plant growth and seed yield.