Effect of Seedling Density on Growth Attributes of Cauliflower variety Kathmandu Local in Nursery Bed

Abstract

Nursery management including optimum seedling density is an important factor for better crop performance. A study was carried out to examine the effect of seedling density on growth attributes of cauliflower seedlings cv. Kathmandu local in the field of Lamjung Campus in Oct., 2018. Experiment consists of four treatments which were replicated five times and laid out in RCBD. Seed spacing treatments viz. 0.5cm x 1.0cm, 1.0cm x 1.0cm, 1.5cm x 1.5cm and 2.0cm x 2.0cm were maintained in a raised nursery beds. Field germination percentage was recorded up to 60% at fourth day after sowing (DAS) whereas in lab it was up to 74%. Above and below ground seedling biomass, unfold leaves area, number of true leaves, plant height and root length were recorded at 23 DAS by destructive method. ImageJ package was used for leaf area measurement. Data were tabulated in MS Excel and analyzed by GenStat. Root length (4.85cm) was significantly higher in spacing of 2cm x 2cm which was at par with 1.5cm x 1.5cm whereas lower in 0.5cm x 1.0cm. Significantly maximum value for fresh weight of root (0.045gm), fresh weight of shoot (0.91gm), dry weight of shoot (0.11gm) and dry matter percentage (12%) was observed in 1.5cm x 1.5cm spacing. Seedlings greater than 1.5cm to 2cm spacing performed better than closer spacing in most of the variable of interests, however, there was no significant differences observed in number of true leaves, leaf area and plant height. A trial with wider spacing considering seedling health is recommended.