Integrated Nutrient Management through FYM, Zinc and Magnesium for Enhancing Yield of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) cv. Pusa Snowball-16

Abstract

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) is a nutritionally rich and commercially important vegetable crop whose productivity largely depends on balanced nutrient management. The integrated application of farmyard manure (FYM) with micronutrients such as zinc and magnesium can improve soil fertility and nutrient uptake, thereby enhancing the yield and quality of cv. Pusa Snowball-16. A field experiment was conducted during the rabi seasons of 2024–25 and 2025–26 at the Horticulture Farm, Bhagwant University, Ajmer, Rajasthan, to evaluate the effect of farmyard manure (FYM) and micronutrient application on the growth and developmental parameters of cauliflower cv. Pusa Snowball-16. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Block Design with six treatments and three replications. The treatments comprised 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 improvements in all yield parameters due to integrated nutrient application. Among all treatments, T₅ (FYM @ 15 t ha⁻¹ + Mg @ 15 kg ha⁻¹ + Zn @ 15 kg ha⁻¹) recorded the highest curd depth (9.15 and 9.49 cm), curd diameter (12.79 and 12.63 cm), curd size index (128.44 and 125.26 cm²), net curd weight (1255.09 and 1185.99 g), gross curd weight (1502.82 and 1447.67 g), yield per plot (9.02 and 8.69 kg), yield per hectare (90.17 and 86.86 t ha⁻¹), and harvest index (64.18 and 60.86%) during both years. The study concluded that the integrated application of FYM with zinc and magnesium significantly enhanced curd development and productivity 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 highest curd depth, curd diameter, curd size index, net curd weight, gross curd weight, yield per plot, yield per hectare, and harvest index during both years.