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Influence of drip fertigation on growth, yield and quality attributes of broccoli under polyhouse and open field conditions​ 


Citation :- Influence of drip fertigation on growth, yield and quality attributes of broccoli under polyhouse and open field conditions​. Res. Crop. 26: 641-648
SANTOSH D. T., DEBASHIS MANDAL, PENDURTHY A. SUNNY DAYAL, MASINA SAIRAM, DINKAR JAGANNATH GAIKWAD, SUMIT RAY AND SAGAR MAITRA sagar.maitra@cutm.ac.in
Address : Center for Smart Agriculture, Centurion University of Technology and Management, Paralakhemundi-761 211, Odisha, India
Submitted Date : 13-10-2025
Accepted Date : 29-10-2025

Abstract

In the present context of climate change, high-value crop cultivation under controlled environmental conditions and fertigation are effective methods to improve productivity and quality. Among exotic vegetables, broccoli has gained importance in India due to its excellent nutritional value and health benefits. The performance of broccoli under different agronomic management has been tested mainly under open-field conditions. However, a comparative study on crop response to nutrients and fertigation under polyhouse and open field conditions is meagre. The current study, conducted during the winter of 2022-23 and 2023-24, aimed to examine the impacts of drip fertigation at varying nutrient concentrations on the growth, yield, and quality of broccoli under both conditions. Eight treatments were tested in polyhouse and open-field environments, which included 100, 80, and 60% of the recommended dose of fertilisers with water-soluble nutrients through fertigation and soil application. The results demonstrated that broccoli cultivated under polyhouse utilising 100% drip fertigation (T1) produced the highest leaf count (16.8 leaves/plant), curd diameter (17.6 cm) and yield (19.7 t/ha) with the best nutritional content (3.11% N, 0.94% P and 3.12% K) and TSS (6.65 °Brix). In contrast, treatments with 80% and 60% nutrients resulted in a steady decline in growth, nutrient content and yield under the open field conditions. The study concluded that cultivation of broccoli in a polyhouse and fertigation with water-soluble nutrients can be combined to enhance productivity and quality, which could offer a practical way to realise a high-yield and sustainable vegetable production.

Keywords

Broccoli SPAD value TSS water-soluble fertiliser yield 


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