Growth and yield of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) as influenced by integrated sources of nutrients and mulching

Field experiments were conducted at the Horticulture Research Center (HRC) of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology Meerut during 2018–19 and 2019–20. The experiment consists of eleven treatment combinations with integrated sources of nutrients and mulching (Black and Paddy straw) in Randomized Block Design with three replications. The results showed that plants fortified and mulched with T8 50% RDF + 15 t/ha VC + Azotobacter (5kg/ha) + PSB (5kg/ha) + Black mulch (2.5mm) had been significantly registered for largest leaf plant ⁻¹ (16.73 cm²) and maximum average specific gravity of the curd (1.17), polar diameter of curd (17.87 cm), curd size index (19.13 cm²) and maximum marketable curd yield (179.09 q ha ⁻¹). The same treatment was also found superior in terms of minimum days taken to first curd initiation (47.62), days taken to 50% curd initiation (64.57), days taken to 50% curd maturity (99.35) and days taken to first curd maturity duration from initiation to harvest (18.67).