GROWTH AND YIELD POTENTIAL OF BROCCOLI IN RESPONSE TO ORGANIC MANURES AND MULCHING

An experiment was conducted at the Horticulture Farm, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, during October 2011 to March 2012. The experiment consisted of two factors, Factor A: Three levels of organic manures, viz., O₀ = Control; O₁ = Cowdung (25 t ha^-1) and O₂ = Spent Mushroom compost (17 t ha^-1), and Factor B: Four types of mulching, viz. M₀ = Control, M₁ = Black polythene, M₂ = Water hyacinth and M₃ = Rice straw. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications. For combined effect, The highest plant height, number of leaves plant^-1, leaf length, leaf breadth, days required for 80% curd initiation, crown length, diameter and weight of primary curd plant^-1, number and weight of secondary curds plant^-1 and highest curd yield (18.28 t/ha) was obtained from O₂M₂ and lowest from O₀M₀. So, it can be concluded that 17 t/ha spent mushroom compost with water hyacinth mulch is suitable for broccoli cultivation.