Effect of Zinc and Boron on Yield, Quality and Nutritional Value of Broccoli Head (Brassica oleracea var. italica) with Different Application Methods in Red and Lateritic Soils of Birbhum District, India

The aim of the study was to improve yield, quality and nutritional value of broccoli head with different dose and application methods of zinc and boron and also decide the best possible treatment combination. The experiment was conducted in Palli sikhsha bhavana, agriculture farm, Visva Bharati (Sriniketan) during rabi seasons of 2018-19 and 2019-20 from October to January. It was laid out in a Factorial Randomized Block Design consisting of 9 treatments of zinc and boron combination with different doses and application method replicated thrice. Three treatments of Zinc viz. Z0 (no zinc), Zf (foliar application @0.5% ZnSO4), Zs (soil application @25 kg/ha ZnSO4) and three treatments of Boron viz. B0 (no boron), Bf (foliar application @0.5% borax), Bs (soil application @2 kg/ha borax) randomized among themselves The crop was planted (spacing of 50 cm X 40 cm), fertilized (N: P2O5: K2O::150:100:100) and irrigated as per recommended practices. Five plants from each plot were randomly selected and tagged for data collection. Treatment (T8) combined application of boron soil @2 kg/ha and zinc as foliar @0.5% was found superior for total yield (28.9 ton/ha) and head weight per plot (695.4 gms). Vitamin C and total chlorophyll of broccoli head significantly improved with combined application of zinc in soil @25 kg/ha and boron as foliar @0.5% with highest value of 1117.5mg/g and 0.77mg/g respectively. Highest Total sugar and reducing content was recorded for combined application of boron in soil @2 kg/ha as well as foliar @0.5% with value of 1.7% and 1.62%. Crude protein content in broccoli head was significantly improved with zinc foliar application @0.5% with a value of 14.34%. Zinc concentration and zinc uptake by broccoli head was significantly increased by zinc foliar application @0.5% recording highest value of 0.041% and 6.67 kg/ha whereas boron concentration and uptake was improved by combined application of boron soil @2 kg/ha and zinc as foliar @0.5% with a value of 0.0049% and 2.26 kg/ha respectively. The combined application of boron in soil @2 kg/ha and zinc as foliar @0.5% would be the best treatment to impact on yield, quality and nutritional values of broccoli head in red and lateritic soils of Birbhum district.