INFLUENCE OF MICRONUTRIENTS AND THEIR APPLICATION METHODS ON SEED YIELD OF BROCCOLI

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at the research field of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka during the period from from October 2021 March 2022 in the Rabi season to study the influence of micronutrients and their application methods on seed yield of broccoli. The experiment consisted of two factors and followed Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Factor A: Levels of micronutrients (4) viz; F 0 = Zn 0 B 0 Mo 0 kg ha -1 (Control), F 1 = Zn 2 B 1 Mo = Zn 4 B 2 Mo 1.5 kg ha -1 , F 3 = Zn 6 B 3 Mo 2 kg ha -1 and Factor B: Different methods of fertilizer applications (3) viz; M 1 1 kg ha = Direct application (Before transplanting), M = Foliar spray (Before flowering) and M = Direct soil + foliar spray. Experimental result revealed that in case of micronutrients application the highest number of pods per plant (2204.90), seeds per pod (8.31), seed weight per pod (19.25 g), seed yield per plant (34.66 g), seed yield per plot (311.97 g), seed yield per hectare (1155.40 kg) and seed germination percentage (86.64 %) were observed by F 3 3 (Zn ) treatment. In terms of different methods of fertilizer applications, the highest number of pods per plant (2008.2), seeds per pod (7.33), seed weight per pod (17.42 g), seed yield per plant (30.87 g), seed yield per plot (277.79 g) as well as seed yield per hectare (1028 kg) were recorded from M (Foliar spray before flowering). When applied together application of Zn 6 B 3 Mo 2 2 kg ha -1 along with fertilizer application through foliar spray before flowering affected broccoli plant growth and yieldcontributing

characteristics, leading to the maximum seed yield per plant (39.17 g), seed yield per plot (352.57 g) and seed yield per hectare (1305.80 kg). Therefore, it is suggested that application of Zn 6 B 3 Mo 2 kg ha -1 along with fertilizer application through foliar spray before flowering (F 3 M 2 ) is beneficial for seed yield production of broccoli.