Growth, yield and economics of broccoli under different levels of nitrogen fertigation

Fertigation (application of fertilizer solution with drip irrigation) has the potential to ensure that the right combination of water and nutrients is available at the root zone, satisfying the plants requirement of these two critical inputs. Fertigation experiments were carried out on broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) cv. Pusa Broccoli KTS1 during rabi season of 2003–04 and 2004–05 at the Horticulture Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat to study the effect of different levels of nitrogen fertigation on growth, yield and economics of the crop. The results revealed that there was significant improvement in growth, yield and fertilizer use efficiency of broccoli under drip irrigation and fertigation. Drip fulfillment at 100 percent evaporation replenishment with cent percent supplementation of recommended dose of nitrogen (200 kg/ha) through fertigation was found to be significantly superior in terms of growth, yield and economics of broccoli in comparison to the conventional fertilization with recommended dose of nitrogen. Fertigation saved fertilizers to the tune of 40 percent as compared to conventional fertilization to maintain the same yield levels in broccoli. Study on fertigation efficiency and economics of cultivation revealed that fertigation with cent percent recommended doses of N was the most efficient treatment with fertigation efficiency of 55.44% and 57.31% respectively and cost benefit ratio of 1:4.41. Therefore, it can be concluded that fertigation with the present recommended dose of N (200kg/ha) at 4 days interval corresponding to 21 drips can be practiced for profitable cultivation of broccoli (1:4.41) under the agro-climatic condition of Jorhat (Assam).