Agriculture for Sustainable Development 1(1):1-5, 2013/Article Agriculture for Sustainable Development 2(1):56-58, 2014/Article
Kaur (Online) and Singh ISSN 2347-5358 (Print)/ 2349-2228
Agriculture for Sustainable Development http://www.sustainableagriculture.in
EFFECT OF FOLIAR APPLICATION OF N AND Zn ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF CAULIFLOWER (BRASSICA OLERACEA VAR. BOTRYTIS L.) CV. SNOWBALL HARISH KUMAR YADAV, PRERNA DOGRA* AND VIRENDRA YADAV Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT Udaipur (Rajasthan) - 313 001, India Received: 02.04.2014
ABSTRACT Keywords: Cauliflower, Foliar application, Nitrogen, Yield and Zinc
Revised accepted: 30. 04.2014 An experiment was conducted to find out the efficiency of foliar application of nitrogen and zinc on growth and yield of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis L.) cv. Snowball-16 at Horticulture Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur in a clay loam soil having alkaline pH (8.0). Experiment was laid out in RBD with foliar application of four nitrogen levels (0, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0%) and four levels of zinc (0, 20, 30 and 40 ppm). Results show that N (1.5%) level of nitrogen significantly increased plant height, plant spread, number of unfolded leaves, days taken for curd initiation, complete maturity of curd, diameter of curd, Fresh weight of plant (curd, shoots and roots) and yield. Zinc had given significant effect on plant spread, number of unfolded leaves, days taken for curd initiation, maturity of curd, diameter of curd, fresh weight (curd, shoots and roots) and yield. The interaction effect of nitrogen and zinc were also found to be significant in yield and fresh weight of curd. The two foliar sprays on 30 and 45 days after transplanting (DAT) of 1.5% nitrogen and 40 ppm zinc individually found to be best for yield and growth parameter.
INTRODUCTION Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea botrytis L.) is an important vegetable crop. It is grown for its white tender curds formed by the shortened flower parts. Cauliflower contains good amount of vitamins like riboflavin, thiamine, nicotinic acid and high quality of proteins and minerals like calcium and magnesium. The yield of cauliflower is directly influenced with the manuring and fertilization practices. In the recent past, much emphasis has been given to the use of NPK fertilizers but application of micronutrients especially zinc has been largely neglected. Application of fertilizers, especially nitrogen is considered as the most important factor for vegetable production. Zinc deficiency in vegetable crops is mostly species related. In general its deficiency results in shortened internodes, chlorate areas in older leaves or may appear in younger plant also. Plant root absorb zinc as zinc ions, soluble zinc salts and zinc complexes can also enter the plant system directly through leaves. In Rajasthan, the soils of Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer and Udaipur districts are alkaline in nature and characterized by high pH ranging between 8.0- 9.0. Present experimental field was 8.0 and zinc and nitrogen are unavailable to plant due to high pH. Hence, soil application of these nutrients may not readily available to the plants. The foliar sprays could be
*Corresponding author email: dograprerna@yahoo.com
beneficial to cover up the related deficiencies of these nutrients. This study is therefore, conducted to see the effect of foliar spray of nitrogen and zinc on growth and yield of cauliflower. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiment was conducted during rabi season at Horticulture Farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, Udaipur in a clay loam soil having alkaline reaction (pH 8.0), available nitrogen (0.072% ), phosphorus (12.15 kg/ha), potassium (250 kg/ha). Experiment was laid out in RBD with three replications. The treatments consisted of four levels of N (0, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0% foliar spray) and four levels of zinc (0, 20, 30, and 40 ppm foliar spray) sprayed after 30 and 45 DAT. Nitrogen was applied through urea and zinc through ZnSO4. Raised nursery beds of 3 Ă— 1 m size were prepared by mixing well rotten FYM in the soil @ 10 kg/ha. The seed were treated with captan @ 2 g/kg seeds for avoiding the infection of seedling with damping-off and were sown in lines @10 g/ bed on first week of October. The nursery was kept clean by removing the weeds and was sprayed endosulfan 30 EC @ 0.05% to control the attack of any insect pest. Approximately after 4 weeks, old seedlings were transplanted on the ridges at a distance of 45 cm apart within the row on the first week of
Agriculture for Sustainable Development 2(1):56-58, 2014/Article November. Immediately after transplanting, irrigation was done. Two days before transplanting basal dose of phosphorus and nitrogen were applied through DAP and urea @ 215, 240 kg/ha respectively. ½ of RDN as basal, 1/4th of total nitrogen applied after 20 DAT and remaining 1/4th at the time of curd formation. For application of nitrogen and zinc required quantity of urea and zinc sulphate was weighed separately dissolve in little amount of distilled water and volume was raised upto one liter. The spraying consists of complete spraying of individual plants with the help of hand sprayer. The foliar applications of treatment (nitrogen and zinc), were done on 30 and 45 DAT. Periodical observations of plant height, plant spread, number of unfolded leaves, days taken for curd initiation were recorded. The first observation after 30 DAT and subsequent observations at 15 days intervals recorded. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Effect of nitrogen and zinc levels on growth parameters Foliar application of nitrogen had significant effect on height of plants, plant spread (sq cm), number of unfolded leaves at harvest as compared to control. The nitrogen spray showed significant effect because of fact that an adequate supply of nitrogen resulted in vigorous vegetative growth of plant and imparted deep green colour to the foliage which favored photosynthesis of carbohydrates in the leaves leading to formation of amino acids, proteins, chlorophyll, alkaloids and amides, which in turn favour better development of plant (Thakur et al., 1991). Foliar application of zinc nonsignificantly affect height of plant while the plant spread and number of unfolded leaves/plant increased significantly at harvest (Table-1). Increase in growth attributes might be due to the fact that beside the role of zinc in chlorophyll formation it also influenced cell division, meristematic activity of tissue, expansion of cell and formation of cell wall (Balyan and Joginder, 1994). Effect of nitrogen and zinc levels on yield Result indicates foliar application of nitrogen significantly reduced the time taken for the initiation and maturity of curd. Minimum time taken for curd initiation recorded in 1.5% N treatment. However, the difference between 1.5% N and 2% N concentrations of nitrogen was found to be non-significant. The reason behind earliness as result of foliar application of nitrogen might be due to vigorous vegetative growth of plant which resulted in better food assimilation by photosynthesis. The food material was translocated rapidly to the edible portion of plant (curd) resulting in early development (El-Beheidi and El-mansi, 1973). Zinc treatments also had significant effect on reducing time for initiation and maturity of curd. Maximum reduction in time from transplanting to initiation of curd and minimum days to curd maturity was recorded in 40 ppm Zn treatment
Yadav et al.
(Table-1). Earliness in curd initiation and maturity might be due to physiological role of zinc and rapid translocation of photosynthets towards the curd which might have developed advance curd (Arora et al., 1990). Foliar application of different concentration of nitrogen had significant affected on diameter and fresh weight of curd as compared to control. The maximum diameter of curd and fresh weight of curd was recorded in 1.5% N treatment. Increase in curd weight by nitrogen application might be due to better vegetative growth which was helpful to accumulate more organic and inorganic materials by plants resulting in curd maximum weight (Thakur et al., 1991). Zinc treatment caused significant increase in curd diameter and fresh weight. Highest concentration of zinc (40 ppm) observed the maximum curd diameter and fresh weight of curd compared to lowest in no Zn treatment (Table-1). Significance of zinc is due to its role in synthesis of auxin which enhances the growth of plant resulted in increase fresh weight and diameter of curd (Singh and Tiwari, 1989). Foliar application of nitrogen had significantly increased the fresh weight of shoot and root, yield q/ha compared to control. Maximum fresh weight of shoot and root and maximum yield was recorded in 1.5% N followed by 2% N. The increase in fresh weight of shoot and root of cauliflower plants may be attributed to the association of nitrogen in the synthesis of protoplasm and primarily in the manufacture of amino acids and increase auxin activities brought about by nitrogen fertilization. Zinc had also significant effect on fresh weight of shoot, root and yield q/ha (Table-1). Maximum fresh weight of shoot and root ware obtained in 40 ppm Zn (Forag et al., 1994). Interaction effect of N and Zn on yield and fresh weight Interaction effect of N and Zn had significantly increased the yield and fresh weight. Maximum yield and fresh weight ware recorded in 1.5% N with 40 ppm Zn treatment (Table-2). The effect of N and Zn had significantly increased the fresh weight of curd might be due to synergistic effect of these two factors (Balyan and Joginder, 1994). CONCLUSION The highest yield of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis L.) cv. Snowball-16 could be obtained by double foliar spray of 1.5% nitrogen and 40 ppm zinc individually. The individual effect of foliar spray of nitrogen and zinc was found to be significant in increasing plant height, plant spread, number of leaves/plant, fresh weight diameter, dry weight, TSS, compactness, colour and yield of curd q/ha and earliness in complete maturity of curd. However, interaction effect of N and Zn which is significantly higher in yield and fresh weight of curd over other treatments.
Agriculture for Sustainable Development 2(1):56-58, 2014/Article
Yadav et al.
Table 1 Effect of foliar spray of nitrogen and zinc on growth and yield of cauliflower
Treatments
Plant height (cm)
Plant spread (Sq. cm)
Unfolded leaves
Days taken for curd initiation
Days taken for curd maturity
Fresh weight (kg)
Diameter of curd (cm)
Curd
Shoot
Root
Yield (q/ha)
Nitrogen level (%) Control
54.39
2932.70
23.19
80.66
108.00
11.34
0.700
1.920
0.098
143.27
1.0
60.21
3115.12
25.20
76.66
101.33
12.33
0.950
2.150
0.120
169.35
1.5
69.91
3341.01
28.25
74.33
100.00
14.04
1.280
2.490
0.150
195.63
2.0
68.12
3325.33
27.20
75.66
101.33
13.23
1.180
2.310
0.133
194.68
CD (P=0.05)
5.849
228.325
2.078
2.113
3.615
0.891
0.027
0.153
0.009
8.124
Control
54.39
2932.70
23.19
80.66
108.00
11.34
0.700
1.920
0.098
143.27
20
56.52
3085.48
24.60
77.00
100.00
12.42
0.750
2.090
0.155
158.59
30
58.65
3112.65
25.41
75.66
97.33
13.32
0.810
2.240
0.130
168.86
40
59.89
3218.86
26.17
74.00
95.00
14.13
0.870
2.380
0.139
179.58
NS
228.325
2.078
2.113
3.615
0.891
0.027
0.153
0.009
8.124
Zn levels (ppm)
CD (P=0.05)
Table 2 Interaction effect of foliar spray of nitrogen and zinc on yield and fresh weight of curd N levels (%) Zinc levels (ppm)
Combined effect of N and Zn on yield/ha
Combined effect of N and Zn on fresh weight of curd
0
1
1.5
2
0
1
1.5
2
0
143.27
169.35
195.63
194.68
0.700
0.950
1.280
1.180
20
158.59
183.47
221.62
204.68
0.750
1.030
1.370
1.230
30
168.86
198.10
243.91
214.91
0.810
1.110
1.527
1.290
40
179.58
211.73
264.13
215.40
0.870
1.190
1.490
1.360
CD (P=0.05)
16.249
0.054
REFERENCES Arora, S.K. Pandita, M.L. and Singh, K. 1990. Response of tomato varieties to plant growth chemical and micro-nutrients during summer and rainy season. Research and Development Reporter. 7(1-2):77-85. Balyan, D.S. and Singh, J. 1994. Effect of nitrogen and zinc on production of cauliflower var. Snowball-16. Haryana Agriculture University Journal of Research. 24(2/3):88-92. EI-Benheidi, M. and EI-Mansi, A.A. 1973.The effect of nitrogen level and spacing on cabbage yield. Beitrage-zurtropischen land wrists chaft and veterinary Medizin, 3:291-297.
Forag, I.A. Forghali, M.A. Refai, E.F. and Shalaby, G.I. 1994. Response of two cultivars of cauliflower to nitrogen rates, boron and molybdenum. Australian Journal of Agriculture Sciences. 22(5): 221-223. Singh, S.S. and Tiwari, R.S. 1989. Effect of micro-nutrients on the growth characters of onion(Allium cepa L.) cv.�Pusa Red�. Haryana Journal of Horticulture Science. 18(2): 146-149. Thakur, O.P. Sharma, P.P. and Singh, K.K. 1991. Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus with and without boron on curd yield and stalk rot incidence in cauliflower. Vegetable Science. 18(2): 115-121.