Effect of NPK and Sulphur on Growth Attributes and Chlorophyll Content of Cauliflower ( Brassica oleracea var . botrytis L . ) variety Pusa Synthetic

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botryitis L.) is the most popular vegetable crop among cole crops belong to the family Cruciferae. It is being grown round the year for its white and tender curd. In India, two separate groups of cauliflower are commonly grown viz. Indian or tropical types (originated in India) and the annual temperate or European type also known as „Erfurt‟ or snowball type. The Indian types form curds at 20 to 25 0 C and the temperate types require a temperature of 10 to 16 0 C for curd formation. The Indian types are resistant to water logging and heat. The typical Indian or Tropical cauliflowers have been developed from the inter-crossing of Cornish type (biennial) with European strains. Tropical types have more variability and strong self-incompatibility. Temperate types have less variability and less or no self-incompatibility. Tropical types do not require of vernalization but requires cold treatment at 10 to 13 0 C for 6 weeks. A temperate type requires vernalization at 7 0 C for 8-10 weeks. It has small thick stem, bearing whorl of leaves and branched tap root system. The main point develops into shortened shoot system whose apices make up the convex surface of curd. It is used as fried vegetable, dried vegetable, making soup and pickles. In Rajasthan, Cauliflower is grown extensively in the district of Ajmer, Alwar, Tonk, Sikar, Bundi, Bharatpur, Nagaur, Rajsamand, Ganganagar, Jaipur and Jodhpur. Total area of cauliflower in Rajasthan about 9.42 thousand ha with an annual production of about 36.61 thousand tonnes and productivity is about 3.89 MT [1]. Among various essential plant nutrients, nitrogen is an essential for plant growth, development and reproduction. Nitrogen is associated with vigorous vegetative growth. It is helpful in large size compact curd development. The proper use of nitrogen improves the curd size, nutrient value and reduces the chances of buttoning [2]. Phosphorus is a constituent of nucleic acid, phytin and phosphorus. So, an adequate supply of phosphorus in early stage of plant life is an important in laying down the primordia for the reproductive parts of the cauliflower. It is also an essential constituent of majority of enzymes which are of great important in the transformation of energy in carbohydrate and fat metabolism and also in respiration in plants [3]. Potassium imparts increased vigour and disease resistance to plant. It also regulates water conduction within the plant cell and water loss from the plant by maintaining the balance between anabolism, respiration and transpiration. Thus reduces tendency to wilt and help in better utilization of available water which ultimately help in the formation of protein and chlorophyll and quality [4]. Sulphur is an essential plant nutrient and it stands next to primary nutrients in importance. Sulphur plays a vital role in biosynthesis of certain amino acids (cysteine, cystine and methionine) that are essential component of protein and also help in the synthesis of coenzyme-A and formation of chlorophyll and nitrogenase enzyme. Further, sulphur also provides winter Abstract A field experiment was conducted at Horticulture Farm, S.K. N. College of Agriculture, Jobner (Jaipur) during Rabi season 2015-16. The experiment consisting four levels of NPK (0, 75, 100 and 125% RD of NPK) and four doses of sulphur (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg sulphur ha -1 ) with total 16 treatment combinations were tested in randomized block design with three replications. Results revealed that application of 125 per cent recommended dose of NPK alone or with combination of sulphur doses @ 60 kg ha -1 to the cauliflower crop significantly increased the plant height (cm) at 30, 60 DAT and at harvest, number of leaves, leaf area and chlorophyll content (mg/g) as compared to control and 75 per cent recommended dose of NPK with 20 kg sulphur ha -1 but statistically at par with 100 per cent recommended dose of NPK and 40 kg sulphur ha -1 . Application of sulphur @ 60 kg ha -1 was found to be non significant in case of days taken to curd initiation over different sulphur doses.