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AUTHOR(S): Gurpreet Kaur, Madhu Sharma
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ABSTRACT In developing countries like India, cultivation of vegetables out of their normal growing season in suitable intercropping system will help the farmers to fetch the higher market price from early produce. However, the optimum production of main crop and intercrop demands special care of essential plant nutrients such as nitrogen. Nitrogen management is a critical factor for production of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica). Field trial was conducted in 2016-2017 at Vegetable Seed Production Farm, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana to optimize the nitrogen dose in broccoli intercropping system. The experiment was replicated thrice in RCBD with three doses of nitrogen (125, 150 and 175 kg/ha) and four summer season vegetables (capsicum, chilli, cucumber and tomato) as intercrops. Nitrogen rates had significant effect on all the growth and yield parameters of broccoli. The maximum plant height (57.11 cm), number of leaves per plant (15.85), leaf size (394.87 cm2), leaf area index (3.39), plant spread (64 cm), head weight (176.72 g), number of axillary sprouts per plant (9.01), weight of axillary sprouts per plant (130.50 g) and total yield (145.47 q/ha) obtained with nitrogen @ 175 kg/ha were statistically at par with nitrogen @ 150 kg/ha. The statistical differences were non-significant in intercropping systems but the sole crop of broccoli showed maximum values for growth and yield parameters. The highest benefit cost ratio (BCR: 3.74) and land equivalent ratio (LER: 1.67) were observed in broccoli + tomato followed by broccoli + chilli. Thus, on the basis of BCR and LER, tomato/chilli as intercrops can be successfully grown by the application of nitrogen @ 150 kg/ha or 175 kg/ha without their any adverse effect on growth and yield parameters of broccoli, under plains of Punjab. |
KEYWORDS Broccoli, Nitrogen doses, Intercrops, Capsicum, Chilli, Cucumber, Tomato, BCR, LER |
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Cite this paper Gurpreet Kaur, Madhu Sharma. (2020) Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization and Summer Season Vegetables as Intercrops on Growth and Yield of Broccoli (Brassica Oleracea L. Var. Italica). International Journal of Agricultural Science, 5, 136-143 |
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