2024, Vol. 7, Issue 7, Part C

author(s)
Sai Ankita G, Dr. Vijay Bahadur and Dr. Joy Dawson

abstract
The experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2023-2024 at the Horticulture Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, Naini Agricultural Institute, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology, and Sciences, Prayagraj (U.P), India, to evaluate the effects of organic manures and biofertilizers on the growth, yield, and quality of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica). The study was designed using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and ten treatment combinations. The treatments included different combinations of farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC), and biofertilizers such as Azospirillum, phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB), and zinc-solubilizing bacteria (ZSB), applied at 30 and 45 days after transplanting. Data on growth, yield, and quality parameters were collected. The results showed that the treatment combination T₇ (FYM 7.5 t/ha + VC 2 t/ha) achieved the best performance in terms of plant height (27.00 cm at 15 DAS, increasing to 69.00 cm at 60 DAS), number of leaves per plant (8.00 at 15 DAS, increasing to 20.03 at 60 DAS), head volume (943.10 cc), polar diameter (21.20 cm), head weight (329.00 gm), and head yield per plot (860.70 kg). Additionally, T₇ had the highest total soluble solids (TSS) at 9.13, ascorbic acid content (20.63 mg/100g), and chlorophyll content (94.00). On the other hand, T₃ (FYM 3.75 t/ha + Azospirillum) exhibited the shortest plants (14.00 cm at 15 DAS), the earliest head initiation (53.42 days), and the quickest head maturity (41.05 days). These findings suggest that the combined use of FYM and vermicompost notably improves broccoli growth, yield, and quality by supplying a balanced array of nutrients and enhancing soil structure. This study highlights the advantages of using organic manures and biofertilizers in sustainable broccoli farming, enhancing soil health and minimizing the reliance on chemical fertilizers.