EFFECT OF SPACING ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF PROMISING CULTIVARS OF CAULIFLOWER (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.).

The present experiment was carried out to estimate the spacing effect on quality, yield and yield related traits in cauliflower during 2015-16. The experiment consists of eight elite varieties/hybrids named as Spring Star, Aishwarya, Snowball-16, Pornima Snow White, US-Agri., RIJK du-Bishop RZ 26-904, Jyoti 2 and Denali RZ 26-960 (F1 Hybrid). These were plotted in split-plot design i.e. main factor (Spacing (60 & 45 cm)) and sub factor (cultivars) with three replications. Data was recorded for plant height (cm), curd weight (g), leaf length (cm), leaf width (cm), number of leaves per plant, curd spreading diameter (cm), stalk length (cm) and yield per hectare (T/ha). Relatively wide range of variation was found among cultivars and RIJK-du and Denali RZ 26-960 performed better for quantitative and qualitative characters such as yield per hectare, curd weight and leaf length. RIJK-du had maximum curd weight (1210.22 gm) and leaf length (33.50 cm) whereas Denali RZ 26-904 had maximum curd yield (280.42 q), spreading diameter (55.40 cm), curd knobs (17.30), equatorial diameter (23.90 cm), plant height (16.90 cm), half cut length (18.47 cm), number of leaves (16.90), leaf width (20.32 cm), leaf area (778.10 sq. cm) and stalk length (16.42 cm). However, Spacing does not have significant effect on curd count number, curd weight, Curd yield, plant height, number of leaves per plant, spreading diameter and stalk length. Out of eight cultivars, two cultivars viz; RIJK-du (280.10 q/ha) and Denali RZ 26-960 (280.42 q/ha) were found promising for yield per hectare. So thereby recommended for large scale cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]