Effect of nitrogen, naphthalene acetic acid and Gibberellic acid on growth, yield and quality of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica L.) Cv. ‘Sante’

Abstract

The experiment was laid out in RBD with three replications, at the Udai Pratap Autonomous College, Varanasi during the year 2013-14. The treatments used were i.e. nitrogen 0, 1 and 2 % NAA in 60 and 120 ppm and Gibberellic acid 0%, 50 and 100 ppm concentrations. Nitrogen at 1.0 and 2.0% improved the vegetative growth attributes of broccoli plant recorded in terms of the height of the plant, length of the root, number of outer leaves, total number of leaves per plant, fresh weight and dry weight of the plant at all the three stages (after 30, 60 and 90 days) of observation. Maximum diameter (19.35 cm), fresh weight of curd (1432.75g), yield (421 q/ha) and ascorbic acid content (24.68 mg/100g) were recorded at 2.0% nitrogen, 120 ppm (NA2) and 100 ppm GA (G2). In first order interaction, combination of nitrogen with NAA gave better response as compared to nitrogen with GA and NAA with GA combination and in two/three factor combinations, maximum values were under N­2NA2, N2NA2G2 i.e. (19.88cm), fresh weight (1520.40g), yield (454.41q/ha) and ascorbic acid content (26.22mg/100g) of the curd. The application of nitrogen at 2.0%, NAA at 120 ppm and GA3 at 100 ppm are recommended for better growth, yield and quality of broccoli.