56. Effect of deficit irrigation and nitrogen levels on growth and yield of cauliflower under drip irrigation
Abstract
A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of deficit irrigation and nitrogen levels on the growth and yield of cauliflower at Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The experiment was designed as randomized complete block with split plot arrangement having three replications. Four irrigation levels I1, I2, I3 and I4 (100%, 75%, 50% and 25% of Management Allowed Deficit) were applied. Similarly, three nitrogen (N) levels N1, N2 and N3 were applied as 20, 40 and 60 kgha-1 respectively. Results showed that different irrigation levels significantly affected number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf weight, plant height, days to curd initiation, Curd maturity, Curd diameter, biological yield, curd yield, water use efficiency and harvest index. Maximum number of leaves per plant (23), leaf length (29 cm), leaf weight (457 g), days to curd initiation (93), curd maturity (16), curd diameter (27 cm), plant height (59 cm), biological yield (50 tons ha-1), curd yield (41 tons ha-1), water use efficiency (210 kgha-1mm-1) and harvest index (8.50 %) were recorded at I1 irrigation level. Different nitrogen levels had significantly affected leaf length, leaf weight, days to curd initiation, curd maturity, plant height, curd diameter, curd yield, curd weight, water use efficiency and biological yield. Maximum leaf length (26 cm), leaf weight (378 g), plant height (53 cm), days to curd initiation (101), maturity (17), biological yield (47 tons ha-1), water use efficiency (175 kgha-1mm-1) and curd yield (39 tons ha-1) was recorded at 60 kg N ha-1. The above results showed that full irrigation through drip system with nitrogen application of 60 kgha-1 is recommended for higher cauliflower yield.
Keywords: Cauliflower; Drip Irrigation; Nitrogen
