Performance of Off-season Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) under Agro Shade Net as influenced by Planting Dates and Nutrient Source

Abstract

Off-season cauliflower during summer months inside shade net offers great potential and fetches higher
remuneration as compared to winter season crop. Summer King cultivar is gaining popularity among the
farmers during summer months but lack of standard planting time and indiscriminate chemical fertilizers
results in fluctuating yield and economic return. The present work was aimed to identify optimum planting
time and proper nutrient source of summer season cauliflower to make production system economically viable
and remunerative. Four different planting dates (1st May, 7th May, 14th May and 21st May) and four nutrients
sources (100% recommended inorganic fertilizers plus 10 t/ha farmyard manure; 75% recommended inorganic
fertilizers plus 10 t/ha farmyard manure plus biofertilizer; 75% recommended inorganic fertilizers plus 5 t/ha
vermicompost plus biofertilizer and 75% recommended inorganic fertilizers plus 5 t/ha farmyard manure plus
2.5 t/ha vermicompost plus biofertilizer) were laid out in two factor factorial RBD with three replications
inside shade net house. The findings revealed that planting dates and nutrient source have significant effect on
off-season cauliflower production and 14th May planting was found best considering the plant grwoth, curd
yield and quality. Again 75% recommended inorganic fertilizers along with vermicompost (5 t/ha) and
biofertilizer seedling inoculation emerged as best nutrient source for off-season cauliflower production. The
finding established that 14th May planting coupled with 75% recommended inorganic fertilizers, vermicompost
(5 t/ha) and biofertilizer seedling inoculation will bring desirable growth, yield and quality attributes of offseason cauliflower under agro shade net.