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Response of broccoli (Brassica oleraceae var. italica) to azotobacterbiofertilizer and vermicompost levels

. FaizaAman, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Neelam Ara, Farzana Fatima and Habib Ullah.


Abstract

An experiment was carried out on the “Response of broccoli (Brassica oleraceae var. italica) to azotobacterbiofertilizer and vermicompost levels” during the growing season of broccoli 2019-2020. Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used with two factors and replicated thrice. Azotobacterbiofertilizer at the rate of 0, 2, 3 and 4 kg ha-1 and vermicompost at the rate of 0, 2, 3 and 4 tons ha-1 were used. Azotobacterbiofertilizer significantly increased all the growth and yield attributes of broccoli. Azotobacter application at the rate of 4 kg ha-1 significantly increased plant height, plant spread, leaves plant-1, leaf area, curd weight, curd diameter, curd volume, root length, root weight and total yield of broccoli compared with other levels of azotobacter. Maximum plant height (41.9 cm), plant spread (55.3 cm)  curd weight (440.6 g), curd volume (327.9 cm3), root  length (22 cm) and root weight (61.4 g) were recorded at 4 kg ha-1 of azotobacter while minimum plant height (32.7 cm), plant spread (42.7 cm), curd weight (357.6 g), curd volume (227.9 cm3), root  length (13.1 cm) and root weight (41.4 g) were noted in the control treatment. The application of Vermicompost also significantly improved all the growth and yield attributes of broccoli. Application of vermicompost at the rate of 4 tons ha-1 significantly increased plant height, plant spread, leaves plant-1, leaf area, curd weight, curd diameter, curd volume, root length, root weight and yield of broccoli compared with other levels of vermicompost. Maximum plant height (39.8 cm), plant spread (53.1 cm), curd weight (463.9 g), curd volume (384.2 cm3), root  length (20.4 cm) and root weight (57.3 g) were observed at 4 tons ha-1 of vermicompost while minimum plant height (33.3 cm), plant spread (42.6 cm),curd weight (322.7 g), curd volume (170.8 cm3), root  length ( 13.4) and root weight (43.3 g)  were recorded in the control treatment. Interaction was found non-significant for most of the parameters except leaves plant-1, leaf area and yield. Maximum leaves plant-1 (29),leaf area (474 cm2) and yield (28.5 tons ha-1) were obtained when azotobacter was applied at the rate of 4 kg ha-1 with combination of 4 tons ha-1 of vermicompost. Application of 4 kg ha-1 of azotobacter and 4 tons ha-1 of vermicompost significantly improved the growth and yield of broccoli, however, highest benefit cost ratio for broccoli was recorded with the addition of azotobacter at the rate of 3 kg ha-1 along with 2 tons ha-1 of vermicompost. The same level of azotobacter and vermicompost is therefore recommended for the highest net return of broccoli.

 

Key words- Azotobacter, vermicompost, broccoli, growth, yield.

 

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