Vol. 7, Issue 7 (2018)

Author(s):
Sharma Priyanka, Singh Mohinder, Bhardwaj SK and Gupta Rasna

Abstract:
Saproon valley of Solan District of Himachal Pradesh is an ideal area for seed production of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var botrytis L). Weather parameters affect the seed yield and quality of cauliflower. A study was conducted to find out the relationship of long-term changes in weather parameters with seed productivity. The weather data on the basis of annual as well as monthly, maximum, minimum temperatures and humidity (forenoon and afternoon) was recorded for Saproon valley of Solan district during 1991 to 2016. The data on cauliflower seed production from 1991 to 2016 for, along with data on weather parameters for the corresponding years were collected. The impact of climate variability on cauliflower seed production was worked out through correlation studies. The mean minimum and maximum temperatures of 6.6 ⁰C and 18.2 ⁰C respectively, during 1990-91 were increased to 11.6 ⁰C and 22.1 ⁰C, respectively, during 2015-16. The corresponding reductions in seed yield from 380.2kg/ha to 216.0 kg/ ha were observed. The reduction in cauliflower seed yield were attributed to fluctuating temperature and humidity conditions. Correlation with weather parameters was worked out. Maximum temperature exhibited significant negative correlation (r=-0.472) with seed yield which indicates that rise in maximum temperature, affects seed production adversely while forenoon humidity exhibited positive correlation (r=0.411) with cauliflower seed yield.