Influence of Foliar Spray of Micronutrients on Growth and Yield of Cauliflower (Brassica oleraceae var. botrytis L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted during the Rabi season of 2024–25 at the Research Farm of Mewar University, Chittorgarh (Rajasthan), to evaluate the influence of foliar-applied micronutrients on the growth and yield of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) cv. Pusa Snowball K-1. The study comprised nine treatment combinations of micronutrients, including Borax, FeSO₄, ZnSO₄, and Ammonium molybdate, applied as foliar sprays at 30, 45, and 60 days after transplanting (DAT), using a randomized block design with three replications. Results revealed that combined foliar application of Borax (0.2%) + FeSO₄ (0.5%) + ZnSO₄ (0.5%) + Ammonium molybdate (0.2%) significantly improved all measured growth and yield parameters over the control. The highest plant height (35.25 cm), number of leaves per plant (16.87), and stalk length (23.00 cm) were recorded under this treatment. Similarly, yield parameters such as curd diameter (41.15 cm), curd depth (9.45 cm), net curd weight (645.68 g), gross curd weight (1020.63 g), and curd yield (145.36 q/ha) were also maximized with this micronutrient combination. These findings indicate that foliar application of a micronutrient cocktail effectively enhances cauliflower vegetative growth and productivity, particularly under micronutrient-deficient soil conditions. The synergistic effect of these micronutrients appears to support improved physiological functions such as nutrient uptake, photosynthesis, and curd development. The study concludes that integrated foliar supplementation with Boron, Iron, Zinc, and Molybdenum is a promising agronomic practice for optimizing cauliflower yield and quality under semi-arid conditions.