EFFECT OF PHOSPHORUS ON GROWTH, YIELD AND SHELF LIFE OF BROCCOLI (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) CUL TIV AR

Abstract

The field and laboratory experiments were conducted at Horticultural farm of Sher-e-Bangia Agricultural University. Dhaka during the period trorn October 2005 to February 2006 to study the effect of phosphorus on growth, yield and shelf lite of broccoli cultivars. Four levels of phosphorus fertilizers viz. Po=O kg Plha, P, = 30 kg Plha, P2 = 40 kg Plha and PJ =50 kg Plha were used in the field experiment. The tield experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Considering the yield and yield atributes of broccoli the highest plant height (55.85 ern), stem diameter (5.69 cm), number of leaves (13.78), leaf length (45.97 ern) at 60 DAT, shoot length (39.93 ern), root length (30.8Icm), fresh shoot weight (793.9 g), fresh root weight (83.42 g) and main curd weight (264.3 g) and curd yield (13.81 tlha) were recorded from P,. But the highest curd diameter (17.44 em), number of secondary curd (4.25). weight of secondary curd (155.3 g) was found in P,. The laboratory experiment was laid out in two factors Completely Randomized Design with four levels of phosphorus fertilizers viz. Po=0 kg Plha, P, = 30 kg Plha, P, = 40 kg Plha and P, =50 kg Plha and three storage conditions. The storage conditions were as follows: i. stored in open condition at room temperature (24°('), ii. stored in perforated polythene bags at room temperature (24°C) and iii. stored in perforated polythene bags at 4°(' in refrigerator. The maximum shelf life of broccoli in open at room temperature (2.62), polyethylene bag at room temperature (6.02) and polyethylene bag at refrigerator (17.0 I) were found in Po.