Effect of Compost and Fertilizer on Growth, Yield and Quality of Broccoli
Abstract
The aimed of the investigation was to evaluate the impact of various organic and inorganic treatments on the growth and yield of broccoli. The experiment utilized a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Five treatment setups were employed: T = Control (Recommended doses of fertilizers: Urea: 250; TSP: 150; MoP: 200; and 1 Boric acid: 12 kg/ha); T = Vermicompost (5 t/ha) + ¼ RDF; T = Vermicompost (3 t/ha) + ¼ RDF; T = Trichocompost (5 2 3 4 t/ha) + ¼ RDF; T = Trichocompost (3 t/ha) + ¼ RDF. The results revealed significant differences across treatments. 5 Vermicompost (T ) consistently produced the highest values. For all 30, 45 and 60 DAT, Thad the tallest plant height (48.18, 2 2 63.80 and 64.00 cm), the most leaves (12.60, 15.60 and 15.62), the largest stem diameter (2.14, 2.40 and 2.62 cm), the longest leaf length (43.32 and 52.98 cm), and the greatest leaf breadth (17.58, 21.26 and 22.38 cm). T achieved the highest yield (4.32 2 kg/plot; 21.33 t/ha), outperforming all other treatments, while T produced the lowest (3.20 kg/plot; 15.80 t/ha). TSS was 1 recorded the highest in T (9.83°Brix), with high ascorbic acid content (88.32 mg/100 g), maximum protein (4.34%), iron 2 content in T (1.44 mg/100 g)and calcium content (47.60 mg/100 g). These findings demonstrated the potential ofT : 2 2 Vermicompost (5 t/ha) with 1/4 of the recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF) to be a recommendable fertilizer management practice to boost broccoli productivity and also demonstrate its significance in reducing production cost for farmers.
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Introduction
About 2.82% of the total land area of Bangladeshis usually involved for vegetable production with a yield of 3.73 million tonnes of vegetables (BBS, 2024). Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) has become a high-value vegetable crop of growing attention in Bangladesh. It is a member of the Brassicaceae family, involving such products as cabbage, cauliflower and kale (Rabbee et al., 2020). Broccoli is a Mediterranean crop, and it is appreciated for its healthy value. It is rich in vitamins A, C, and E and minerals (calcium, iron, and zinc) (Hamza and Al-Taey, 2020). China is the biggest producer of broccoli globally, and it produces approximately 43% of the total (FAO, 2022). In Bangladesh approximate production of cauliflower and broccoli rose 16.2% to 342000 tonnes in the year 2022 (FAOSTAT, 2022). In Bangladesh, production and productivity levels, as well as quality, are highly dependent on the soils and their management. To boost the harvest, farmers regularly use excessive levels of chemical fertilizers, which harm the environment and degrade the soil health (Singh et al., 2021). The effect of compost and fertilizer on the growth and yield of broccoli has been extensively studied, revealing significant benefits from both organic and inorganic amendments; compost usually enhances soil chemical properties, leading to increased nitrogen content, which is crucial for broccoli'sgrowth (Aouass & Kenny, 2022). It has been observed that organic and chemical fertilizers used in a proper balance contribute to sustainable output and lower the degradation of the environment (Al-Taey et al., 2019).
Excessive use of chemical fertilizers in broccoli fields has raised concerns about overall soil health and environmental sustainability, causing a shift toward organic fertilizer management practices (Islam et al., 2024; Meem et al., 2024). Vermicompost is produced through the decomposition of organic matter by earthworms. Among available organic fertilizers, vermicompost has gained attention for its ability to enhance soil fertility, microbial activity, and plant growth, leading to improved yield and quality in broccoli and other crops (Rehman et al., 2023; Blouin et al., 2019). Studies consistently report that vermicompost application improves plant height, leaf number, and biomass in broccoli due to enhanced nutrient availability and improved soil structure (Rabbee et al., 2020). Vermicompost improves soil structure, microbial activity, and nutrient supply (Manzoor et al., 2024). Yield increases are attributed to better root development and increased nutrient uptake, with some studies noting up to 20-30% higher yields in vermicompost-treated plots (Alkobaisy et al., 2021). Trichocompost, generated by incorporating Trichoderma species in the composting process, supplements nutrients and also acts as a natural biocontrol agent, and Trichoderma helps resistance against soil-borne pathogens and promotes plant vigour (Tarafder et al., 2022). Trichocompost can enhance broccoli growth parameters and yield, often by improving disease resistance and stimulating root growth (Islam et al., 2024).
Both vermicompost and trichocompost can be used as key growth promoters, such as for plant height, leaf number, curd initiation, and marketable yield in broccoli, often outperforming conventional fertilizers and other organic manures (Tarafder et al., 2022; Alkobaisy et al., 2021). The integration of these organic manures helps to promote sustainable agriculture, supporting soil health, reducing environmental impact, and achieving the growing consumer demand for organic vegetables (Rehman et al., 2023). Given the increasing demand for organic vegetables and sustainable soil management practices in Bangladesh, optimizing fertilizer management practices for broccoli is important. This study aims to assess the effect of vermicompost on broccoli growth and yield, evaluate the effect of trichocompost on broccoli growth and yield and examine the combined impact of compost and inorganic fertilizer on broccoli growth and yield.
Conclusion
The use of trichocompost and vermicompost, with 1/4 of the recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF), has the potential to be a valuable agricultural activity for improving broccoli productivity. While this method demonstrates increases in crop yield, it also provides much-needed assistance to farmers. The use of vermicompost and trichocompost has demonstrated positive and synergistic effects on soil health, nutrient availability, and plant growth, which ultimately led to increases in broccoli yield. Farmers are constantly challenged to ensure food security and sustainability in agricultural practices, and incorporating these types of integrated ideas provides long-term hope for regenerative and productive farming. The improvements experienced from using these types of integrated methods demonstrate why research-based methods are important to discover ways that farmers can implement good techniques to improve crop performance and agriculture as a whole.
CONFLICT OF INTERESTS The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest related to this article.
