Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology

An experiment was conducted inside greenhouse and in the field of the Experimental Farm, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat for two consecutive years (2018 and 2019) to assess the effect of sowing media and variety  on root growth of  early cauliflower seedling and subsequent performance of seedling  in the main field. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with eight treatments comprising of four sowing media [M₁-cocopeat (60%): vermiculite (20%): perlite (20%), M₂-cocopeat (50%): vermicompost (50%), M₃-cocopeat (50%): vermicompost (50%): microbial consortium and M₄-Conventional nursery] and two varieties [V₁ (White Diamond) and V₂ (CFL1522)] replicated thrice. Treatment M₁, M₂ and M₃ were inside green house. The results revealed root parameters at seedling stage were significantly influenced by sowing media. The highest root length (4.94 cm), root fresh weight (0.26 mg) and root dry weight (0.07 mg) of seedling were recorded in M₃. Between the two varieties (i.e V₁ and V₂) V₁ exhibited the maximum root length (4.24 cm) while no significant difference was observed for root fresh and dry weight. Among interactions, M₂V₁ recorded maximum root length (5.83 cm) while M₃V₁ recorded maximum root fresh weight (0.28 mg) and dry weight (0.08 mg) of seedling. After transplanting in the field, significant variations for root parameters were observed. Cauliflower plants that were grown in M₃ at seedling stage recorded highest root length (21.94 cm) and  volume (74.59 cm³) but for root dry weight  seedlings that were grown in M₂  recorded maximum  dry weight i.e. 3.28 g. Variety V₂ recorded maximum root length (17.76 cm) and dry weight (2.68 g).  M₃V₂   recorded highest root length (22.01 cm), volume (76.46 cm³) and dry weight (3.48 g). Curd characters were also significantly influence by media while variety showed significant variation for days to curd initiation, harvesting and curd diameter only. M₃ recorded minimum days for curd initiation and harvesting (37.09 and 53.26), maximum curd compactness (53.05 g/cm³), diameter (12.84 cm), weight (0.41 kg) and shelf life (8.89 days).The interaction effect between media and variety was also found significant. The combination M₃V₁ recorded  minimum days  for curd initiation and harvesting ((36.55 and 52.32), maximum curd compactness (53.15 g/cm³)  while M₃V₂ recorded maximum curd  diameter (13.51 cm), curd weight (0.41 kg) and shelf life (9.50 days) .The  combination M₄V₂  recorded maximum days  for curd initiation and harvesting (45.46 and 63.87),minimum curd compactness (42.77 g/cm³)  and M₄V₁ recorded minimum curd diameter (10.28 cm), shelf life (4.95 days)  while  both  M₄V₁ and M₄V₂ recorded minimum curd weight (0.27 kg). From the present investigation it can be concluded that for producing quality seedlings in the nursery which will further show good performance in the field seedling can be raised in media(M₃) i.e.cocopeat (50): vermicompost (50): microbial consortium @ 1:100 under protected condition.