Effect of Farmyard Manure and Micronutrient Application on Growth and Development of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) cv. Pusa Snowball-16 at Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Cauliflower is a nutritious and economically important cool-season cruciferous vegetable that originated in the Eastern Mediterranean region and was introduced to India in 1822. Its growth, yield and quality are highly dependent on suitable environmental conditions, soil health and appropriate nutrient management. A field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2024–25 and 2025–26 at the Horticulture Farm, Bhagwant University, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India, to assess the effects of farmyard manure and micronutrient application on growth and developmental parameters of cauliflower cv. Pusa Snowball-16. The study was laid out in a randomised block design comprising six treatments and three replications. The treatments comprised the control (T₁), FYM @ 15 t ha⁻¹ (T₂), FYM @ 15 t ha⁻¹ + Zn @ 15 kg ha⁻¹ (T₃), FYM @ 15 t ha⁻¹ + Mg @ 15 kg ha⁻¹ (T₄), FYM @ 15 t ha⁻¹ + Mg @ 15 kg ha⁻¹ + Zn @ 15 kg ha⁻¹ (T₅) and Zn @ 15 kg ha⁻¹ + Mg @ 15 kg ha⁻¹ (T₆). The results revealed significant variation among treatments for all growth and developmental parameters. Treatment T₅ recorded the maximum plant height (36.14 and 35.94 cm), number of leaves per plant (19.17 and 17.35), leaf size (869.31 and 825.30 cm²), plant spread (51.56 and 51.32 cm), and the minimum days to curd initiation (57.98 and 57.49 days) during both years, respectively. The same treatment also recorded the earliest curd maturity from transplanting (73.71 and 73.12 days). The study indicated that the integrated application of FYM with zinc and magnesium significantly enhanced vegetative growth and accelerated developmental processes in cauliflower. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of FYM, zinc and magnesium on the growth and developmental attributes of cauliflower. The results revealed significant differences among treatments (P ≤ 0.05). Treatment T₅ (FYM @ 15 t ha⁻¹ + Zn @ 15 kg ha⁻¹ + Mg @ 15 kg ha⁻¹) recorded the maximum plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and plant spread, while also reducing the days to curd initiation and maturity.