Thapa, U; Prasad, PH; Rai, R
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.var italica Plenck) is an important winter season exotic vegetable from the Brassicaceae family as well as heavy feeder of plant nutrients. Plant nutrition is one of the prime considerations for getting higher yield of any crop. Mineral fertilizer improves growth and yield of broccoli due to the role of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium on the meristematic activity. Boron and molybdenum are essential micronutrients required for normal plant growth and development. Plants differ widely in their requirements, but the ranges of deficiency and toxicity are narrow. Boron and molybdenum deficiencies are very common in Cole crops. Deficiency causes many anatomical, physiological, and biological changes. The deficiency of boron and molybdenum has threatened the ever increasing areas of broccoli. The effected heads become irregular in shape, smaller in size and bitter in taste which adversely affects the market demand of the crop. No systematic work so far has been done in production technology of sprouting broccoli in relation to response of nutrients in the gangetic plains of West Bengal. The present investigation was attempted to find out the growth, yield, and quality of broccoli on the aspects of minor mineral (boron and molybdenum) nutrition. The experiments were conducted at the Horticultural Research Station of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mondouri, Nadia, West Bengal, during 2010-12 with four levels of boron (0, 15, 18, and 21kg ha(-1)) and molybdenum (0, 1.2, 1.5, and 1.8kg ha(-1)). Design of the experiment was a Factorial Randomized Block Design. Biometric observations were recorded from the selected plant from each plot and each replication of both the years. It was concluded from the results that under favorable agro-climatic conditions, the application of 18kg borax and 1.8kg ammonium molybdate ha(-1) was found beneficial for growth, yield, and quality of broccoli.