Efficient Utilization of Paddy Straw and Sugarcane Bagasse through Vermicomposting and its Impact on Growth, Yield and Quality of Broccoli [Brassica oleracea (var.) italica]

Broccoli [Brassica oleracea (var.) italica] is a cool season vegetable of family cruciferous, known as harigobi in Hindi. In modern agriculture, high doses of chemical fertilizers are used to maximize the crop production. Plenty of chemical fertilizers along with a small quantity of organic ones are being used to increase the yield which ultimately affects the health of soil. Due to excess use of chemical fertilizers a decline pattern is observed in soil fertility, therefore integrated nutrient management is an important demand of present era. Vermicompost application is an important forthcoming addition in this venture.

The research material comprised of seven treatments with three replications. Treatments included FYM (T1), Chemical fertilizer (T2), Paddy straw vermicompost (T3), Sugarcane bagasse vermicompost (T4), Paddy straw+Sugarcane bagasse vermicompost (T5), Vermicompost+Vermiwash (T6) and control (T7). The experiment was conducted considering the growth and yield parameters along with quality parameters.

The results indicated that application of treatment T5 vermicompost was found to be the best treatment combination in terms of quality of broccoli. Thus, the study indicates that the vermicompost can be utilized effectively for sustainable crop production.