Effect of bio-fertilizer and mulching on growth, yield and quality of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) in central region of Punjab

The field experiment entitled to study the Effect of bio-fertilizer and mulching on growth, yield and quality of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.)” was carried out at the Experimental Research Farm, Department of Agriculture, Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib, during Rabi season, 2016-17. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications comprising of nine treatments viz., T1 (Control), T2 (Paddy straw mulching), T3 (Saw dust mulching), T4 (PSB@1g per plant), T5 (PSB@1g per plant + Paddy straw), T6 (PSB@1g per plant + Saw dust), T7 (Azotobacter@1g per plant), T8 (Azotobacter@1g per plant + Paddy straw) and T9 (Azotobacter@1g per plant + Saw dust). The results revealed that the growth characters like plant height, plant spread and leaf weight and quality parameters like TSS and ascorbic acid were significantly highest with T8 treatment (Azotobacter@1g/plant + Paddy straw). But significantly highest dry matter and quantitative parameters like curd height, average curd weight and average curd yield/ha were recorded with T5 treatment (PSB@1g/plant + Paddy straw). Maximum net return ( 2,08,054.00) was obtained from T5 treatment (PSB@1g/plant + Paddy straw) while maximum B:C ratio (3.16:1) was obtained from T4 treatment (PSB@1g/plant). Whereas, minimum B: C ratio (1.12:1) was recorded under control.