Influence of zinc (Zn) and boron (B) on growth, yield and quality of Knol-khol (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes L.)
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Date
2006
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SKUAST Kashmir
Abstract
Present investigation entitled, “Influence of zinc (Zn) and boron (B) on growth, yield and quality of Knol-khol (Brassica oleraceae var. gongylodes L.)” was carried out at Vegetable Experimental Farm, Division of Olericulture, SKUAST-K, Shalimar during Rabi 2004-05 to find out the optimum dose and best combination of zinc and boron and their method of application for obtaining high and quality knob yield of Knol-khol cv. EWV. The soil of the experimental field was silty clay loam in texture, neutral in reaction with normal EC. The soil was low in available nitrogen and medium in phosphorus and potassium. The available zinc and boron was also low. The experiment was laid in Randomised Block Design replicated thrice at a spacing of 30 x 20 cm. Seventeen treatment combinations i.e. recommended NPK (125:50:60 kg ha-1), foliar spray of B @ 100 ppm, Zn @ 100 ppm, B + Zn @ 100 ppm each, soil application of B @ 10 kg ha-1, B @ 15 kg ha-1, Zn @ 10 kg ha-1, Zn @ 15 kg ha-1, combined soil application of B and Zn @ 10 kg ha-1 each, B @ 10 kg ha-1 + Zn @ 15 kg ha-1, B @ 15 kg ha-1 + Zn 10 kg ha-1, B and Zn @ 15 kg ha-1 each, both foliar and soil application of B @ 100 ppm and 10 kg ha-1, B @ 100 ppm and 15 kg ha-1, respectively, B and Zn @ 100 ppm each as foliar application + B @ 10 kg ha-1 as soil application were tried in the experiment. The observations were recorded on growth, yield and quality traits from 10 randomly selected plants from each treatment in each replication. Among various treatments, combined application of B and Zn @ 15 kg ha-1 each exhibited better response than alone soil and foliar application of Zn and B and their combinations. This treatment also proved better in improving growth, yield and quality than other treatments including control i.e. recommended dose of NPK alone. The plants supplied with 15 kg ha-1 each of B and Zn recorded significantly higher knob yield (390.50 q ha-1) followed by 382.17 q ha-1 when B @ 10 kg ha-1 + Zn @ 15 kg ha-1 was applied and 357.77 q ha-1 when B @ 15 kg ha-1 + Zn @ 10 kg ha-1 was applied. The treatments also exhibited higher values of growth, yield and quality traits than all other treatments. The knob quality in respect of TSS and ascorbic acid content were also enhanced appreciably in these combinations. The higher dose of either B or Zn decreased the growth, yield and quality of Knol-khol. The combined foliar and soil application of zinc @ 100 ppm and 15 kg ha-1 respectively, took more days (59.66) to marketable maturity. However, soil application of B @ 15 kg ha-1 or combined foliar and soil application of B @ 100 ppm and 15 kg ha-1, respectively, recorded 57.33 days to marketable maturity. Economic studies indicated that treatment combination of foliar application of B and Zn @ 100 ppm each was most profitable with maximum benefit cost ratio of 4.34. However, the treatment which produced higher yields by the application of B and Zn @ 15 kg ha-1 each gave the benefit cost ratio of 1.35. The higher values for growth, yield and quality attributes were also recorded in the plants which were supplied with basal application of B and Zn @ 15 kg ha-1 each. Hence, for getting maximum profits one should go for foliar application of both B and Zn @ 100 ppm each, whereas for harnessing better yield and quality apply B and Zn @ 15 kg ha-1 each in the soil.
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M.Sc Thesis submitted to SKUAST Kashmir
Keywords
Boron, Knol-khol, Quality, Yield, Zinc, Olericulture/Vegetable Science