To study the effect of different time of transplantings and mulching on seed production of late cauliflower (PSBK-1)

An investigation was carried out at experimental farm of Department of Seed Science and Technology, Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan (HP) during 2018-2019 using cauliflower cv. Pusa Snowball K-1. The experiment was conducted on the time of transplanting and mulching on seed production of late cauliflower. There were 12 treatment combinations comprising of four dates of transplanting (16th September, 26th September, 6th October and 16th October) and three levels of mulching (black polyethylene mulch, silver polyethylene mulch and no mulch). The studies revealed that out of 12 treatment combinations, D1M1 (16th September transplanting date and mulching with black polyethylene sheet) was the best for most of the seed yield parameters resulting in minimum days to curd initiation (45.33), early bolters (26.55%), days to flowering initiation (168.67), days to 50 per cent flowering (185.67), maximum number of branches plant-1 (16.07), maximum number of seeds siliqua-1 (17.53), maximum seed yield plant-1 (22.62 g), maximum seed yield plot-1 (422.00 g) and maximum seed yield ha-1 (625.18 kg). Effect on various seed quality parameters was assessed under laboratory conditions. The maximum values for germination (85.25%), SVI-I (761.70), SVI-II (258.25) and lowest electrical conductivity (0.027 dSm-1) observed in D1M1 (16th September transplanting date and mulching with black polyethylene sheet) were found to be significantly superior to rest of the treatment combinations. The benefit: cost ratio was also maximum (4.01:1) in the treatment combination, D1M1 (16th September transplanting date and mulching with black polyethylene sheet). Thus, it can be concluded that for getting higher yield of quality seed in late cauliflower under mid hill conditions of HP, the crop should be transplanted up to 2nd week of September and mulched with black polyethylene sheet.