Assessment of producing quality sprouting broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) under cover and open condition

The present study evaluates Poly House and Open field production of quality Sprouting broccoli. Sprouting broccoli is an exotic vegetable which is gaining popularity among Indian growers due to its high nutritive value and market potential in the recent years. Experiment was conducted to determine the growth, yield and quality of sprouting broccoli under polyhouse and open field condition at Horticultural Research Station, Mondouri, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia, West Bengal (India) during the months of October to March (2010 to 2012). The experiment consisted of two growing conditions (viz, Polyhouse and Open field) with four hybrid varieties (viz, Early You, Princess, Fiesta and Nokguk). Results indicated that the plants grown in the polyhouse were superior than those grown in the field. Quality attributes like, Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, reducing sugar , non-reducing sugar and total sugar were also found significantly increased in polyhouse grown crops. Marketable curd yield of ‘Early you’ were highest in poly house condition. Plants grown in poly house gave the highest production in all the four varieties as compared to the plants grown in open field. Significant trends were found in all the quality attributes with increasing tendency in all the four varieties of sprouting broccoli in polyhouse. Study amongst the four varieties that for highest production with good quality, polyhouse condition was found to be effective for successful cultivation of Sprouting broccoli in the gangetic plains of West Bengal.