EFFECT OF VERMICOMPOST AND BIOFERTILIZER ON THE GROWTH AND YIELD OF BROCCOLI (Brassica oleracea var. italica L.)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm of Sher-e-Bangl a Agricultural University, Dhaka during November 2020 to March 2021 to study the effect of vermicompost and biofertilizer on growth and yield of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica L.). Broccoli variety Green Carpet was used as planti ng material in this study. The experiment consisted of two factors: Factor -A: vermicompost (4 levels): T 0 = 0

t ha -1 (control), T 1 = 3 t ha -1 , T 2 = 6

t ha 1 ; Factor-B: biofertilizer (4 levels): F 0 = 0

kg ha -1 (control), F 1 = 3

kg ha , F 2 = 5

kg ha -1 and F 3 = 7

kg ha . The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (factorial) with three replications. Data on different growth, yield contributing and yield parameter of broccoli were recorded and significant variation was observed from different treatments. In case of vermicompost, the tallest plant (65.44 cm), the maximum number of leaves per plant (21.32), leaf length (58.61 cm), leaf breadth (22.32 cm) and canopy size (6062.00 cm -1 ) was observed from T 3

(9 t ha -1 2 ) treatment at 60 DAT. The maximum stem diameter (4.73 cm) was achieved from T 2 (6 t ha -1 ) treatment. The maximum curd diameter (12.09 cm), yield plot

(2.26 kg) and yield ha -1 (14.12 t) was achieved from T 3 (9 t ha ) treatment. In case of biofertilizer at 60 DAT, the tallest plant (63.58 cm), the maximum number of leaves per plant (20.86), leaf length (58.13 cm), leaf breadth (22.12 cm) and canopy size (5858.60 cm 2 ) was observed from F 3 (7 kg ha -1 -1 ) treatment, stem diameter (4.72 cm), curd diameter (11.98 cm), yield plot -1 (2.32 kg) and yield ha (14.51 t) was achieved from F 3 (7 kg ha ) treatment. The highest BCR (2.63) was obtained from the T 3 F 3 treatment combination where as the lowest BCR (1.98) was from T 0 F 0 -1 treatment combination. It is concluded that, planting of broccoli providing 9 t ha

verticompost and 7 kg biofertilizer was recorded to be more suitable practice for getting higher yield of broccoli.