Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) are important winter vegetable crops cultivated in Bangladesh. Planting date is crucial for successful production, but the farmers of the haor areas generally cultivate cauliflower and cabbage not maintaining proper planting dates. The study aimed to search the suitable varieties and planting dates of cauliflower and cabbage. Two individual experiments were conducted in Naogaon village at Dekar haor in Sunamganj district from October 2018 to February 2019. Three planting dates- 5 November, 15 November and 25 November were selected for both the experiments. In experiment one, two hybrid cauliflower varieties- Shira Giko, White Mountain and one OP variety Queen were selected. Atlas 70 and Queen F1 were included in experiment two. The experiments followed two factors randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three farmers’ replications. Data were collected on curd diameter, curd yield, gross and marketable yield for cauliflower. The cabbage head diameter, head yield, gross and marketable
yield data were also recorded. Economic performance was calculated for the cost of production, ross return, net return and BCR for both the crops. The result showed that the curd diameter (37.56 cm), curd yield (16.36 t ha-1), marketable yield (25.83 t ha-1), gross yield (50.48 t ha-1), and BCR (4.55) were highest on 15th November in the case of cauliflower. Again, head diameter (56.6 cm), head yield (49.17 t ha-1), marketable yield (61.31 t ha-1), gross yield (75.91 t ha-1), and BCR (6.28) were highest on 5th November for cabbage. Cauliflower variety, Shira Giko and cabbage variety, Atlas 70, were the high-yielding varieties compared to others. Mid- November and early November planting were suitable for cauliflower and cabbage cultivation, respectively in the haor areas.

Keywords: Cauliflower, Cabbage, Haor, Planting dates, varieties

The study is an attempt to examine the economic analysis of cauliflower and cabbage production in selected areas of Sylhet district. A total of 45 farmers were randomly selected from three villages namely Dighirpar, Basantagaon and Paschimdarsa at Sylhet Sadar upazila in Sylhet district. The major findings of this study revealed that production of the selected homestead vegetables were profitable. Per acre gross cost of production of cauliflower and cabbage were Tk. 93860.55 and Tk. 92135.8, respectively and the corresponding gross returns were Tk. 229407.4 and Tk. 230800, respectively. Per acre net returns of producing cauliflower and cabbage were Tk. 135546.85 and Tk. 138664.2, respectively. Benefit cost ratios of cauliflower and cabbage production acre-1 were 2.44 and 2.50, respectively. The farmers earned the highest profit from cabbage production. The results of Cobb-Douglas production function model indicated that acre-1 gross returns were significantly influenced by the use of human labour, tillage operation, seeds, fertilizers, manure, irrigation and insecticides. These factors were directly or jointly responsible for influencing acre-1gross returns of cauliflower and cabbage. Some essential policy recommendations have been arisen which are: input and price support, and motivation and training programmes should be arranged by different government and non-government organizations and public-private partnership should be emphasized for creating scope to improve the overall economic condition of the farmers through homestead vegetable farming.

Keywords: Economics, cauliflower, cabbage, production, Sylhet

The present study was conducted with four cauliflower genotypes viz., CL-170, CL-171, CL-172 and BARI Fulcopi-1 and three sowing dates viz., 25 August, 5 September and 25 October. The experiment was conducted during the winter season of 2013-14 at the field laboratory of Horticulture Department of Sylhet Agricultural University (SAU) to evaluate growth and yield of cauliflower genotypes and to identify the suitable planting time in Sylhet conditions. Results showed that sowing dates and genotypes had significant influenced on growth and yield of cauliflower. The lowest days to first curd harvest was from the plant grown in 5 October sowing (86.25 days) while it was the highest from the plants in 25 August sowing (91.58 days). The highest whole plant weight was recorded from the plants of 25 August sowing (0.78 kg) while the highest individual curd weight (0.48 kg) and only curd weight (0.31 kg) was recorded in 15 September sowing. The plants in 15 September sowing produced the highest curd yield (16.32 t ha-1) followed by 15 August sowing (15.64 t ha-1). Days to first curd initiation and days to first harvest were significantly different among the genotypes. CL-171 was the earliest to first harvest (88.69 days) while the genotype CL-170 required 91.22 days to first harvest. The genotype BARI Fulcopi-1 had the highest whole plant weight (0.97 kg), marketable curd weight (0.55 kg) and only curd weight (0.32 kg). Among the four genotypes, BARI Fulcopi-1 produced the highest marketable curd yield (18.7 t ha-1) followed by CL-171 (16.37 t ha-1). Whole plant weight, marketable curd weight and only curd weight were significantly influenced by the interaction of genotypes and sowing dates. The highest marketable curd was harvested from the genotype BARI Fulcopi-1 (20.74 t ha-1) when grown in 15 September sowing which was followed by the same genotype from 25 August sowing (18.7 t ha-1).

Keywords: Cauliflower, genotype, sowing date, hilly area