Effect of Boron and Zinc on Growth and Yield Attributes in Early Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.)

Abstract

The present experiment was carried out in cauliflower to study the effect of boron and zinc on growth and yield in the early cauliflower having combinations of four levels 0, 1, 2, 3 kg ha-1 of boron and four levels 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 kg ha-1 of zinc in a factorial randomized block design with three replications during the year 2016 and 2017 respectively. The results of the experiment with applied boron and zinc had significant effect on growth and yield of cauliflower. The highest curd depth (8.88 cm) and curd equatorial diameter (16.45 cm) was found with applied boron (2 kg ha-1) and zinc (2.5 kg ha-1) respectively. While as, maximum net curd weight (410g) and marketable curd weight (695g) was found with sprayed boron and zinc (1 kg ha-1 + 2.5 kg ha-1) respectively., Maximum harvest index (62.8 %) and yield (113.89 q ha-1) was found when applied with boron (2 kg ha-1) and (2 kg ha-1+ 2.5 kg ha-1) respectively. Maximum curd compactness (34.34) and dry matter compactness (14.48) were found with the application of boron (1 kg ha-1) and zinc (2 kg ha-1+2.5 kg ha-1) respectively. Overall findings indicated that with the increase in concentration of boron and zinc the vegetative growth and the reproductive stage of cauliflower increases respectively.