EFFECT OF SPACING AND POTASSIUM ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF BROCCOLI (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica)

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at experimental field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh during October 2007 to February 2008 to determine the effect of spacing and potassium on the growth and yield of broccoli. The trial consists of 12 treatment combinations of 3 spacing and 4 levels of fertilizer application. Maximum plant height, number of leaves per plant, maximum fresh weight of leaves per plant, leaf dry weight per plant, primary curd weight, primary curd diameter, number of secondary curd per plant, weight of secondary curd per plant, curd dry weight per plant and yield per plant (372.80g) were recorded in widest spacing but the highest stem length, and yield/ha 35

were recorded from the closest spacing. Maximum plant height, number of leaves per plant, length of largest leaf and largest leaf breadth per plant, fresh weight of leaves per plant, leaf dry weight per plant, highest stem length, primary curd weight, primary curd diameter, number of secondary curd per plant, weight of secondary curd per plant, curd dry weight per plant and yield per plant and yield/ha were obtained from 120 kg K/ha application. In combination of plant spacing and potassium fertilizer application, the highest primary curd weight per plant (252.20 g), primary curd diameter, number of secondary curd per plant, weight of secondary curd per plant (117.20 g), curd dry weight per plant and yield per plant (439.10g) were obtained from the combination of 60 cm x 60 cm and 120 kg K /ha and yield/ha (16.61t) were obtained from the combination of 60cm × 40cm

and 120 kg K/ha. The highest net return (Tk.210514.00/ha) and benefit cost ratio (3.01) was obtained from 60cm × 40cm

and 120 kg K /ha combination. From the result it may be concluded that treatment combination 60cm × 40cm

and 120 kg K /ha was promising for application.