Effects of Nitrogen and Sulfur Sprays on the Growth and Production of Broccoli Brassica Oleracea var. Italica L.

Abstract

In order to achieve optimal plant growth and production, essential nutrients must be readily available in adequate quantities and in a balanced proportion to give a good yield, especially broccoli which has health benefits that may not be found in many other plants. For this purpose, this experiment was carried out during the seasons 2019/2020 in the botanical garden of the Department of Biology, College of Science for Women, University of Baghdad, to study the effects of nitrogen and sulphur and their interaction on eight parameters reflecting the overall traits of vegetative growth, yield, and chlorophyll content of broccoli Brassica oleracea L. (var. italic JASSMINE F1 Hybrid). A factorial design with three replicates was used, each with 7 plants treated via foliar spraying. The first factor included three groups; control N0 (distill water spray), N1 (500 mg.l-1 nitrogen), and N2 (1000 mg.l-1 nitrogen). The second factor also included three groups; control S0 (distill water spray), S1 (500 mg.l-1 sulfur), and S2 (1000 mg.l-1 sulfur). We used Urea (CO(NH 2) 2) as a nitrogen source and zinc sulphate (ZnSO4) as a sulfur source. As for the treatment with nitrogen, the results revealed that N2 treatment caused the significantly highest values in all the studied traits, except for the plant height, where there was no significant difference between N1 and N2. As related to the treatment with sulphur, the results showed that S2 treatment resulted in the significantly highest values of leave area, leave dry weight, and root fresh weight. S2 also caused the highest values, but with no significant differences, of plant height, stem diameter and chlorophyll content index. S1 treatment, on the other hand, caused insignificantly higher values of leave number per plant and main curd weight. Based on the results of the interaction between nitrogen and sulfur, S1N2 treatment resulted in the significantly highest values as compared to all other treatments of all the studied traits, except for the plant height, root fresh weight, and main curd weight. The results presented here may facilitate improvements of Broccoli cultivation with suitable nutrient concentrations for sustainable agriculture. In conclusion, the present study comes up with the following: nitrogen and sulfur and their interaction enhance significantly the growth and production of broccoli.

Effect of Different Doses of Nutrients on Vegetative, Reproductive and Biochemical Parameters of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.) cv. F1 Amazing Hybrid

“…Higher results for the reproduction of cauliflower after NPK treatment (150 + 100 + 100 kg/acre) may be attributable to the increase in enzymatic metabolism in the plants followed on by NPK application, which is responsible for increasing curd size, curd weight, and yield [22]. These results were also verified with the results of Ali et al [23], Kisko et al [24] and Ashraf et al [14]. Phosphorus application in adequate quantity during the early stage of plant growth boosted the production of primordial of reproductive parts [25].…”

Effects of Water Stress, Nitrogen, Magnesium and their Interactions on Some Growth Characteristics and Essential Oil content of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.)

“…stem diameter (St. D mm): Table3shows that N3 caused a significant decrease in stem diameter 9.8 mm and results disagreed with results obtained by43,44 about Jatropha curcas and Broccoli. Interaction treatment SM2N3 significantly decreased St. D of rosemary plants 9.399mm.…”

تأثير حامض الهيوميك والسايتوكينين والأرجينين على صفات النمو وحاصل نبات الفاصوليا Phaseolus vulgaris L تحت الإجهاد الملحي

“…It was found that spraying the growth regulator cytokinin mitigates the toxicity of saline water, perhaps through vegetation growth parameters, and also reduced lipid peroxidation, improved oxidative defense in leaves, and increases membrane permeability, as well as substitutes the oxidative damage by enhancing antioxidant defense mechanisms such as increasing the enzymatic activity of superoxide, catalase, peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and scavenging ROS 55,56 Cytokinins also regulate the ability of plants to absorb many nutrients from the environment, including nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur and iron 57 , which regulates mineral balance. The nutrient status of plants regulates plant growth 58 .…”