Enhancement of yield and its attributes of sprouting broccoli through drip irrigation and fertigation

Field experiment was conducted to investigate yield, water and fertilizers use efficiency of broccoli var. KTS-1 by adopting drip irrigation and fertigation practices at the Experimental Farm of Division of Olericulture, SKUAST-K, Shalimar, Srinagar (JK 100%, 80% and 60% ET through drip and 100% surface irrigation; and four levels of fertilizers application viz; 100%, 80% and 60% recommended NPK through fertigation and 100% recommended NPK through traditional method of fertilizer application. The results indicated that superiority of drip irrigation and fertigation in terms of yield, water and fertilizers use efficiency over conventional method of irrigation and fertilizers application. The treatment combination of 80% ET though drip + 80% recommended NPK through fertigation was found significantly superior over all other treatment combinations and registered as 64% yield enhancement over the conventional method of irrigation and fertilizers application. It was found that the treatment combination of 60% ET through drip + 80% recommended NPK through fertigation noticed maximum water use efficiency (11 .9 q/ha-cm) whereas the fertilize use efficiency was found maximum (2.86 q/kg N and 5.73 q/kg P&K) with the treatment combination of 80% ET through drip + 60% recommended NPK through fertigation.