• Abstract

•  ranchat22@rediffmail.com

The response of vermi-compost and inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of sprouting broccoli was studied during 2011-13 at UBKV, Pundibari, West Bengal, India. The treatments comprised of five levels of vermi-compost (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 t ha-1) and four levels of inorganic fertilizers (0, 50, 75 and 100% of recommended dose) were evaluated in two factor factorial RBD with three replications. The result revealed that successive increase in vermi-compost level significantly increased the growth and yield attributes and application of highest level of vermi-compost (10 t ha-1) registered 38% and 43% improvement of central head weight and total head yield respectively over control, whereas application of 100% recommended fertil­izers enhanced the head weight and total head yield by 32% and 35% respectively over control. The nutrient schedule comprising of higher level of vermi-compost (10 t ha-1) and 100% of recommended inorganic fertilizers emerged as potential nutrient source and resulted in many fold improvement in the form of vigorous growth, early head initiation, advanced head maturity and higher yield as well as superior quality of head as compared other nutrient combination. 

Keywords :   Vermi-compost, inorganic fertilizers, sprouting broccoli