Abstract
A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different planting dates (15th September, 1st October, 15th October,
1
st November and 15th November) on the growth and yield of Rocco F1 and Galabrease varieties of broccoli under semi-arid
condition of Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan. Experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a splitplot arrangement with three replications. Varieties were assigned to main plots and planting dates were allotted to sub-plots.
Growth parameters viz. head diameter, number of axillary shoots, leaf chlorophyll content and days taken to maturity: and
yield parameters such as fresh and dry biomass, apical head weight, axillary shoots weight and total marketable yield were
measured. Results showed that Rocco F1 performed better than Galabrease on all the growth parameters except leaf chlorophyll
value. Maximum head weight (315.84 g), axillary shoots weight (180.99 g), fresh biomass (67.85 t/ha), dry biomass (12.43
t/ha) and total yield (19.83 t/ha) was recorded in Rocco F1. The increase in all yield parameters of Rocco F1 over Galabrease
was more than 100 %. As regards planting dates, 1st October proved significantly better than other planting dates on various
growth and yield parameters. Planting of broccoli latter than 1st October reduced growth and yields significantly and linearly.
The decrease in total yields ranged from 13.88 to 181.37 % when broccoli was planted earlier than 1st October or later than
this date. Interactions between varieties and various planting dates were significant. It is concluded from the present findings
that Rocco F1 proved better than Galabrease while best planting time for both the varieties was found to be the first week of
October. Planting of broccoli earlier or later than first week of October adversely affected the yields.
