Effect of Altitude on Physical and Biochemical Attributes of Cauliflower in Trans-Himalayan Region

Ladakh, the Trans-Himalayan region of India, includes several river valleys at varying altitudes, which can influence vegetation quality. The region’s harsh climate and low soil fertility were considered a limitation to agriculture. However, the sector is progressing with increasing demand for locally grown vegetables, primarily from the Brassicaceae family. Several studies have focused on vegetable yield, but no research has investigated the influence of altitude on attributes of vegetables from different valleys of trans- Himalayas. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to inspect the influence of altitude on the physical and biochemical attributes of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) from different altitudes of Trans-Himalayas. Samples from Suru Valley, Nubra Valley and Indus Valley situated at 2500-2700, 3000-3200 and 3250-3560 masl, respectively, were harvested for further study. The weight of Ladakh-grown cauliflower was in the range of 0.36-0.69 kg, volume was 955.2-2384.1 cm3 and density was 0.025-0.08 g/cm3. Statistically, mid-altitude (Nubra Valley) grown cauliflower was heaviest (p