Influence of lime and micronutrients on head quality and economics of Broccoli (Brassica oleraceae var. italica) var. Palam Samridhi

Abstract

The experiment was conducted at Department of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha during Rabi 2017-18 to find out the efficacy of lime and micronutrients (Boron and Zinc) on production of quality heads with higher benefit cost (BC) ratio in broccoli variety “Palam Samridhi”. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with lime (with or without) as main plot while 7 levels of micronutrients (Boron and Zinc) in sub-plot replicated thrice. The results revealed that, invariably lime application increased better head quality (viz; TSS-7.060Brix, ascorbic acid- 94.70 mg 100g-1, protein-1.48% and total sugar-1.73%) with higher BC ratio (1.80) than treatment without lime (viz; TSS-6.60Brix, ascorbic acid- 86.86 mg 100g-1, protein-1.34% and total sugar-1.62% and BC ratio-1.72), irrespective of micronutrients. Similarly, combined foliar spray with borax @ 0.2% and ZnSO4 @ 0.5% recorded good quality heads (viz; TSS-7.030 Brix, ascorbic acid- 97.25 mg 100g-1, protein-1.70% and total sugar-1.79%) and higher BC ratio than rest of other treatments, irrespective of lime. Invariably, foliar spray of micronutrients were recorded better head quality (viz; TSS-7.030Brix, ascorbic acid- 97.25 mg 100g-1, protein-1.70% and total sugar-1.79%) with higher BC ratio (1.85) than corresponding soil application of micronutrients (viz; TSS-6.950Brix, ascorbic acid- 90.77 mg 100g-1, protein-1.66% and total sugar-1.73% and BC ratio-1.73). It may be concluded that soil application of lime with combined foliar spray of borax @ 0.2% and ZnSO4 @ 0.5% not only produced good quality heads but also higher profits in broccoli var. “Palam Samridhi” in acidic soil.