Effect of Organic Manure and Its Application Timing on the Growth and Yield of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis)

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, from October 2017 to February 2018. The experiment consisted of two factors, Factor A: Four levels of organic manures, viz. M0 = Control; M1 = Cowdung (35 t ha-1), M2 = Mustard oil cake (3.5 t ha-1) and M3 = Vermicompost. Factor B: Three application times, viz. T1 = 15 days before transplanting, T2 = Application at the time of transplanting and T3 = 15 days after transplanting. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. In the case of organic manure, the highest yield (38.70 t/ha) was found from M2 treatment, whereas the lowest yield (19.71t/ha) was recorded from M0 treatment. In the case of application time, the highest yield (31.83t/ha) was found from T1 treatment, whereas the lowest yield (28.10 t/ha) was recorded from T3   treatment. Due to combined effect maximum yield (38.704 t/ha) with net return (4,74,421tk) and BCR (2.20) was obtained from M2T1 treatment combination while the lowest yield (17.90 t/ha) with the lowest income (44,211 tk) and BCR (1.17) from M0T3 treatment combination. So, the economic analysis revealed that the M2T1 treatment combination appeared to be best for achieving the higher growth, yield and economic benefit of cauliflower.