INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURE & BIOLOGY, 10: 627–32
Effect of Fertilizers on Growth, Yield, Yield Components, Quality and Certain Nutrient Contents in Broccoli (Brassica oleracea)
BASEL A. OUDA AND ATIF Y. MAHADEEN1
Plant Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Mu'tah University, P.O. Box 7, Al-Karak, Jordan
1Corresponding author’s e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABSTRACT
The plastic-house experiment was carried out during winter 2006-2007 to determine of the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on yield and quality of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. Italica). Four organic fertilizer doses (0, 40, 60 & 80 t ha-1) and three inorganic fertilizer doses (0, 30 & 60 kg ha-1) were used. Application of 60 kg inorganic fertilizers with 60 ton organic manure per hectare produced the highest broccoli yield (40.05 t ha-1). Head number per plant, chlorophyll content and head diameter were higher when a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers was added compared with their individual addition. Chlorophyll content was higher when inorganic fertilizer adding with organic manure compared with using organic manure alone. Yield and number of broccoli heads had same trend in response to treatments combinations. Fresh and dry weights of broccoli shoots were not significantly affected by application of different doses of fertilizers. Leaf macro-(N, P & K) and micro-nutrient (Fe, Mn & Zn) contents were increased by application of either organic manure or inorganic fertilizer compared to control. Soil pH, EC and organic matter contents were not significantly affected by application of different doses of inorganic fertilizer. Soil electrical conductivity and organic matter were increased by increasing organic fertilizer dose, but soil pH was not affected by different fertilizer doses. Optimum yield (40.05 t ha-1) of broccoli can be obtained by application of 60 ton organic manure with 60 kg inorganic fertilizer ha-1. Broccoli plants can be grown better in soil amended with organic fertilizer. Application of a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers gave the best values for all tested parameters.
