Effects of Planting Date, Plant Density and Nitrogen Fertilizer on Yield of Cauliflower as Second Crop After Rice in Mazandaran

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Abstract

For better better use of paddy lands in Mazandaran province, this study was carried out to determine the best planting date, plant density and nitrogen fertilizer levels for high yield in cauliflower cv. Snow crown. The experiment was conducted in a spilt-plot factorial design with three replications at Dashtenaz Agricultural Research Station in Sari for two years (2003-2004). The main plots were three planting dates, 5 Sep., 20 Sep. and 5 Oct., subplots three plant row distances, 50, 60 and 70 cm and three levels of nitrogen fertilizer 0, 92 and 138 kgha-1. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among main factor, sub factors and also their interactions at 1%probability level.The highest yield (40 tha-1) was produced in treatment with planting date of 5 Sep., plant density of 60 cm (55000 plants per hectar) and application of 90 kgha-1 nitrogen. Increase in plant number per hectare by reducing plant row distances from 70 to 60 cm increased the total yield. Significant positive correlation was observed (r = 0.842) between curd diameter and fresh leaves weight. Significant positive correlations were also observed between yield and curd diameter (r = 0.580) and leaf dry weight (r = 0.545). The results of stepwise regression analysis revealed that curd diameter and leaf dry weight were the most important factors affected the yield. Accomulated nitrate did not show any significant correlation with yield and its amoumt in different treatments were acceptable.

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