Deficit Irrigation practices on Broccoli Growth in a Natural Ventilated Net-cum-Polyhouse

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the effect of irrigation stress on yield and yield attribute parameter at various growth stage of the broccoli under natural ventilated net-cum-polyhouse. The research experiment was carried out at Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat, India for the period of two year 2020-21 and 2021-22. The irrigation stress was imposed 0%, 20%, 40% and 60% of the ETc at initial, mid and end stage of the crop. ETo was calculated by the standard and well accepted FAO-56 method. The yield attribute parameter like stem diameter, plant height, No. of leaves per plant and plant canopy was measured at respective growth stages. However the days taken to harvest, curd diameter, curd weight and yield was measured at time of harvesting. The effect of irrigation stress level on crop growth stages found significant on stem diameter, plant height, No. of leaves per plant, plant canopy, curd diameter, curd weight and yield. The interaction effect of stress imposed on crop growth stage and irrigation stress level on stem diameter, plant height, plant canopy, curd weight and yield was found significant. However, No. of leaves per plant, days taken to harvest and curd diameter was found non significant. The irrigation stress imposed 20% of ETC applied at initial and end stage promote the higher yield in broccoli cultivation. Moreover, the yield was found at par with irrigation stress imposed up to 60% at initial stage and 40% at end stage of the crop. It is advisable to imposed irrigation stress at initial stage and end stage of the broccoli crop during the scare water resources under natural ventilated net-cum-polyhouse. However, irrigation stress imposed at mid stage significantly affect the broccoli yield.