Effect of Mulching and Organic Fertilizer on Growth, Yield and Quality of Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var italica)

Abstract

This study was carried out during 2014-2015 growing season at the vegetative researchfarm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Duhok University on broccoli plants, to study theeffect of mulching compared with no mulching and three levels of organic fertilizers(organic manure) (0, 5, 10 ton/donum) on broccoli (Zen Hybrid F1). The results showedthat mulching significantly increased plant height, leaf area, leaves number/plant,branches number/plant, head dry weight, head height, yield, fiber%, total sugar content,carbohydrate% and chlorophyll%. Organic fertilizer caused positive significantdifferences in all vegetative characteristics and most yield characteristics. The interactionbetween mulching and organic fertilizer significantly enhanced all studied traits.