Response of Different Levels of Nitrogen on Growth and Yield of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) Varieties

Abstract

Nitrogen is the major limiting nutrient in commercial cauliflower production. The effects of six nitrogen doses (0, 70, 80, 90, 115, 130 kg N/ha) were evaluated in two cauliflower varieties (Snow Mystique and Khumal Jyapu) at the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Lamjung Campus from September 2018 to January 2019. This experiment was carried out in a two factorial Completely Randomized Design with twelve treatments and five replications. FYM (25 t/ha), full dose of phosphorus (80 kg/ha) and potassium (60 kg/ha), and half dose of nitrogen were applied as a basal dose and the remaining half dose of nitrogen was applied in two equal split doses at 30 DAT and 60 DAT. The application of 130 kg N/ha gave superior results in plant height (26.32 cm), plant spread (4103 cm2), leaf area (264 cm2), stem diameter (1.96 cm), number of leaves (20.70), root length (26.26 cm), girth of curd (49.46cm) and adjusted yield (21.78 ton/ha). Similarly, the performance of the Snow Mystique variety was significantly superior as compared to Khumal Jypau in terms of growth and yield. Therefore, the combination of an optimum level of nitrogen (130 kg N/ha) and hybrid variety (Snow Mystique) could be recommended for the commercial production of cauliflower.