Effect of Soil and Foliar Application of Zinc and Iron on Growth, Yield and Quality of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) var. Pusa Mukta

Abstract

Background and Aims: Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is a biennial herbaceous vegetable crop, belongs to Brassicaceae family with the diploid chromosome number 2n =2x =18. The present investigation was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur to study the effect of soil and foliar application of Zinc and Iron on growth, yield and quality of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.). Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted during Rabi season, 2025-26. Methodology:The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design with two factors viz. first factor: soil application (4 levels, control, ZnSO4 @20kg/ha, FeSO4 @20kg/ha and ZnSO4 + FeSO4 @20kg/ha) and second factor: foliar application (4 levels, control, ZnSO4 @100ppm at 25 DAT, FeSO4 @100ppm at 25 DAT and ZnSO4 + FeSO4 @100ppm at 25 DAT) replicated thrice. The observed data was analyzed in OPSTAT. Results: The results revealed significant differences among the factors and interactions. Among the treatment combination Superior growth, yield, quality parameters viz. maximum plant height (31.16 cm),  plant spread (57.4 cm), minimum number of non-wrapper leaves per plant (10.343), maximum leaf area (953.38 cm2), head diameter (15.08 cm), minimum days taken to head initiation (51.27), head maturity (76.75), maximum fresh weight of head (1080.26 g), yield per plot (36.053 kg), total yield per hectare (52.03 t/ha), total soluble solids (7.44 0Brix), ascorbic acid content (41.22 mg/100g) and chlorophyll content in leaves (74.37) were observed in the treatment combination of ZnSO4 + FeSO4 @ 20 kg/ha X ZnSO4 + FeSO4 @ 100 ppm at 25 days after transplanting (M4T4) whereas the minimum was observed in control. Conclusion: Although these results are only indicative and require further experimentation to arrive at more consistent and credible conclusion, the treatment ZnSO4 + FeSO4 @ 20 kg/ha X ZnSO4 + FeSO4 @ 100 ppm at 25 days after transplanting (M4T4) may be recommended for obtaining higher yield and superior quality of Cabbage.