Cauliflower Quality Optimization: Harnessing Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers

Abstract

The experiment intended to determine the impact of various doses of organic and inorganic fertilizer on the quality of cauliflower. The trial was conducted in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) at the Crop Research Centre of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology in Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, with ten treatments and three replications. The treatments included Control (T1), general recommended dose of N:P:K (100:60:60 kg ha-1) (T2), and increasing doses of N:P:K with or without farmyard manure (FYM) - T3 to T8, and two levels of FYM alone (T9 and T10). Results showed that quality parameters of cauliflower, such as ascorbic acid, protein content, total phenols, and flavonoids in different treatments, were significantly higher than the control. Furthermore, cauliflower cultivated with integrated nutrient systems or organic systems demonstrated higher antioxidant qualities than those cultivated with chemical fertilizers alone. These results suggest that organic fertilizers can enhance the nutritional quality of cauliflower and serve as an alternative to mineral fertilizers.