Evaluation of growth and yield performance of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica L.) under conventional urea, nano urea and azotobacter biofertilizer
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26832/24566632.2025.1004014Keywords:
Azotobacter, Biofertilizers, Conventional urea, Nano urea, Sustainable agricultureAbstract
Conventional urea, while being the predominant nitrogen source in Nepalese agriculture, presents significant challenges including import dependency, low nitrogen use efficiency, and environmental pollution. A field experiment was conducted in Tulsipur, Dang, during 2024-25 season to evaluate Nano urea and Azotobacter biofertilizer as potential partial or complete substitutes for conventional urea in broccoli cultivation. The study employed a randomized complete block design with three replications and nine treatments, including reduced (75%, 50%) doses of recommended conventional urea supplemented with Nano urea and Azotobacter, using full conventional urea (N 100% PK full) as control. The treatment with 75% conventional urea and both supplements produced a significantly (p<0.05/0.01) superior plant height (56.31 cm) and the largest canopy diameter (57.97 cm) at harvest, while 50% conventional urea with Nano urea resulted in longest leaves (38.30 cm) and broadest leaves (19.82 cm) of broccoli at harvest. The combination of 50% conventional urea with Azotobacter achieved the highest economic yield (26.96 t/ha), while 75% conventional urea with both supplements yielded maximum biological production (67.2 t/ha) of broccoli. Correlation analysis revealed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.947) between head diameter and economic yield which was further quantified by a linear regression model (y = -18.44 + 2.87x, R² = 0.896), confirming head diameter as a key predictor for yield of broccoli. Hence, the study concludes that integrating Nano urea or Azotobacter can reduce conventional urea use by 25-50% without compromising yield, offering a sustainable strategy that addresses both import dependency and environmental concerns.
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