Effect of Drip Fertigation Levels on Soil Fertility and Productivity of Cauliflower cv. Pusa Snowball K-1

Abstract

The field experiment were conducted during 2013-14 and 2014-15 to study the effect of drip fertigation on nutrient availability, plant parameters and yield of cauliflower. The field experiments were laid out in randomized block design with four replications and six fertigation levels (60, 70, 80, 90, 100 and 110 per cent of recommended dose). Recommended doses of N, P and K are 125, 108 and 76kg/ha, respectively for cauliflower in Himachal Pradesh. Fertigation with recommended dose of fertilizer resulted in highest available N (365.3 kg ha-1), P (95.8 kg ha-1) and K (477.8 kg ha-1). Drip fertigation with recommended dose also increased the available Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn content by 8, 29, 21 and 40 per cent, respectively over 60% recommended dose (i.e N- 75, 65 and 46 kg/ha) treatment. The productivity of cauliflower was maximum with the application of 100 percent nutrients through drip irrigation and recorded an increase of 17.9 percent curd yield over 60 percent RD treatment. The study suggests that application of recommended dose of fertilizer through drip irrigation in 10 splits leads to higher and sustainable cauliflower production.