Optimizing Nutrient Management Practices for Cauliflower in Hill Zone of West Bengal: An Integrated Approach

Abstract

A set of experiments was conducted at Hill Zone of West Bengal, Kalimpong for two seasons (2019 & 2020) to standardize integrated nutrient management for optimum growth and yield of cauliflower. Different organic nutrient sources, such as farm yard manure (FYM), poultry manure (PM), and vermicompost (VC), were used to partially replace the recommended dose of chemical fertilizer. The treatments we used were as follows: T1= N120 P60 K60 (RDF), T2= 75% RDF+25% N through FYM (FYM@ 6 t ha-1), T3= 75% RDF+25% N through VC (VC@ 2 t ha-1), T4= 75% RDF+25% N through (PM@ 1.25 t ha-1), T5= 75% RDF+25% N through FYM + Foliar spray of B, T6= 75% RDF+25% N through FYM + Soil application of B, T7= 75% RDF+25% N through VC + Foliar spray of B, T8= 75% RDF+25% N through VC + Soil application of B, T9= 75% RDF+25% N through PM + Foliar spray of B, T10= 75% RDF+25% N through PM + Soil application of B. The treatments were set up in a randomized block design with three replication. The treatments had a significant (P<0.05) effect on cauliflower yield and soil-available macro and micronutrients due to integrated nutrient management. The maximum plant height (45.9 cm), curd wt. plant-1 (537.2 g), stalk wt. plant-1 (227.3 g), and curd yield (162.1q ha-1) was achieved with T9 treatment i.e 75% RDF+25% N through PM + Foliar spray of B. Therefore, application of 75 percent of RDF and 1.25 t ha-1 poultry manure along with foliar spray of boron at 25 and 40 days after transplanting is recommended.