Effect of Foliar Spray with Biostmulants on Growth, Head Yield, Phytohormones and Nutrients of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. Capitata)

doi:10.21608/ejoh.2015.1326

Effect of Foliar Spray with Biostmulants on Growth, Head Yield, Phytohormones and Nutrients of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. Capitata)

Document Type : Original Article

10.21608/ejoh.2015.1326

Abstract

THERE IS a recent tendency to use biostimulants in horticultural ……. crops as natural and environmental friendly substances. Two field experiments were carried out at Sakha Agricultural Research Station Farm, Kafr El-Shiekh Governorate, Egypt during two successive winter seasons of 2009/2010 and 2010/2011. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impact of foliar application of some biostimulants such as ascorbic acid (Vit. C) and Atonik, which generally regarded as safe compounds, on growth, yield and quality as well as hormones and N, P, and K% in cabbage plants, Brunswick cultivar. Spraying was done three times with two Atonik and ascorbic acid levels, 100, 200 ppm and their combinations. The most important results could be summarized as follows: spraying plants with Vit. C at 200 ppm alone and Vit. C at 200 ppm + Atonik at 200 ppm produced higher weight of edible leaves and head yield per feddan than control. Vit. C (200 ppm) alone, also its combination with Atonik at 100 or 200 ppm resulted in heavier average head weight and more ascorbic acid content than control. The treatments of Vit.C (200 ppm) +Atonik (200 ppm), followed by Vit. C (100 ppm) +Atonik (100 ppm) decreased inedible leaves number in comparison with the other treatments. Atonik (200 ppm) alone and Vit. C (200 ppm) + Atonik (200 ppm) increased TSS% over control. The low level of Atonik alone decreased cabbage head diameter. All biostimulant treatments increased head compactness compared with the control. Moreover, all biostimulant treatments increased IAA and GA3 but decreased ABA when compared with control. The highest values of IAA and GA3 were obtained with Vit. C (100 ppm) + Atonik (100 ppm) treatments. Atonik (200 ppm) alone and also the combination between ascorbic acid and Atonik at any level gave more N%.

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