Influence of Starter Solution and Mulching on Growth and Yield of Broccoli

Abstract

A field experiment was accomplished in the Horticulture farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from October 2018 to March 2019 to study on influence of starter solution and mulching on growth and yield of broccoli. The experiment comprised of four levels of starter solution viz., S0 (Control), S1 (1% Starter solution), S2 (1.5% Starter solution) and S3 (2% Starter solution) and four levels of mulching viz., M0 (no mulch), M1 (Black polythene), M2 (Water hyacinth) and M3 (Rice straw) were used in this experiment arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Data on different growth and yield attributes parameters were taken in which all the treatment showed significant variations. In the case of starter solution, maximum plant height (71.41 cm), number of leaves (15.35), canopy spread (78.86 cm) and weight of primary curd (416.41 g) were recorded from S3 (2% urea solution) treatment. In the case of mulching, maximum plant height (73.02 cm), number of leaves (16.00), canopy spread (80.81 cm) and weight of primary curd (442.24 g) were recorded from M1 (Black polythene) treatment. The highest yield (19.67 t/ha) was recorded from S3 (2% Starter solution) whereas the lowest yield (14.83 t/ha) was obtained from S0. Significantly higher yield (21.00 t/ha) was recorded from M1 (Black polythene) while the lowest yield (12.88 t/ha) was obtained from M0 treatment. In the case of the combined effects the maximum yield (24.07 t/ha) was recorded from the treatment combination of S3M1 while the lowest yield was (11.87 t/ha) recorded from S0M0 treatment. It was apparent from the above results that the treatment combination of S3M1 was more suitable for farmers than rest of treatment combinations.