EFFECT OF ORGANIC, CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS AND PLANT DENSITY ON: 2- SOME GROWTH AND YIELD CHARCTERISTICS OF CAULIFLOWER Brassica oleracea var. botrytis

Abstract

The Experiment was carried out at field of College of Agriculture, University of Diyala during 2014 to study effects of two factors, fertilization and plant densities on growth and yield of cauliflower. The Experiment included 12 treatment represent two plants densities, the first represented planting cauliflower seedlings on one side of drip tubes, while the second was planting seedling on both sides of the drip irrigation tubes, and six fertilization treatments were applied included: control (without fertilizer), sheep manure at 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10% of soil volume (soil volume was calculated on the base of experimental unit area at 0.3 m depth) and the treatment of chemical fertilizer NPK 20:20:20 at 300 kg ha-1 which was added at two times: first one added after one week after planting and second was added at curds appearance. This Experiment was designed in Factorial Experiment according to randomized complete block design. Means were compared according to Duncan's Multiple Range Test at the probability level 0.05. Result could be summarized as follows: the first density planting caused significantly increased in the curd diameters and curd weights with leaves to 20.10 cm, 1.85 Kg plant-1 respectively as compared with the second density which reduced to 0.51kg 15.34 cm and 1.03 kg plant-1 respectively. Otherwise second density has a significant effect on total yield (curds with leaves) which was 57.41 ton ha-1 as compared with first density 51.44 ton ha-1.The addition of sheep manures level of 10% caused increasing in the curd diameters, curd weights with leaves and total yield (curds with leaves) after to 48.60 cm, 0.86 kg plant-1, 21.25cm, 2.14 kg plant-1, 80.42 ton ha-1, 2.67% and 2.21% respectively, as compared with control which reduced the number of it to 15.18cm, 0.83 kg plant1-, 30.14 ton ha-1 respectively. Interaction between the first density and sheep manures 10% gave a significant increase in the last characteristic, as compared with treatment of interaction between the second density and no fertilizer.