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

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the effect of irrigation stress on yield and yield attribute at various growth stages of broccoli under natural ventilated net-cum-polyhouse system. The research experiment was carried out at Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh, Gujarat, India, for two years, 2020-21 and 2021-22. The irrigation stress was imposed on 0%, 20%, 40% and 60% of the ETc at the initial, middle and end stages of the crop, respectively. The ETo was calculated by the standard and well-accepted FAO-56 method. The yield attributeparameters, such as stem diameter, plant height, number of leaves per plant and plant canopy were measured at the respective growth stages. However, the days taken to harvest, curd diameter, curd weight and yield were measured at the time of harvesting. The effects of irrigation stress level on crop growth stage were significant for stem diameter, plant height, number 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 significant. However, the number of leaves per plant, days taken to harvest and curd diameter were not significantly different. Under irrigation stress, the application of 20% ETC at the initial and end stages promoted a greater yield in broccoli cultivation. Moreover, the yield was on par with that under irrigation stress which reached 60% at the initial stage and 40% at the end stage of the crop. It is advisable to impose irrigation stress at the initial stage and end stage of the broccoli crop when water resources are scarce under natural ventilated net-cum-polyhouse. However, irrigation stress imposed at the middle stage significantly affects broccoli yield.