Abstract:
The use of border crops in cauliflower was an eco-friendly method for the
management of pests. The present study was conducted at the Faculty of
Agriculture, Kilinochchi from December 2018 to April 2019. The experiment
was carried out in a split-plot design with three replicates. Four different
borders, such as sunflower (T1
), lemongrass (T2
), chrysanthemum (T3
), and
no border (T4
) were selected as the main plot treatments, and two different
cauliflower varieties such as Mareet (V1
) and White Shot (V2
) were used as
subplot treatments. The cauliflower varieties were planted at the spacing
of 60 cm × 45 cm. All the agronomic practices were done according to the
recommendations of the Department of Agriculture except plant protection
methods. The growth, plant protection measures, and yield parameters
were recorded. ANOVA and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) were
used for data analysis. There was no interaction effect between the type of border crops and varieties in all measured parameters. The border
and the variety were not significant for plant height and the number of
leaves per plant. The curd weight, circumference, diameter, total yield,
and marketable yield were significantly different among the border crops,
while the greater performances were observed in the lemongrass border
(T2
). The varieties of cauliflower showed a non-significant effect on the
yield parameters, and the highest was recorded in the white shot variety.
Marketable yield and infested yield have significantly (p=0.05) differed
among the different border crop treatments and the highest marketable
yield was obtained from lemongrass border (T2
) in both varieties. The
plant protection parameters such as the number of damaged leaves per
plant and damaged curds significantly differed among the border crops.
The highest was recorded in the control (T4
) treatment in Mareet variety.
It can be concluded that lemongrass border and white shot variety can
be recommended as the best treatment combination for cauliflower
cultivation in the Kilinochchi district of Sri Lanka during the Maha season.
