Impact of lime and micronutrients on nutrient uptake and post-harvest soil fertility status in broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. italica) var. “Palam Samridhi”

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted at Department of Vegetable Science, College of Agriculture, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, during rabi season of 2017-18 to find out the optimum rate of B and Zn application for maximizing nutrient uptake and yield of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) in acidic soils of Odisha. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with lime (with or without) as main plot while 7 levels of micronutrients of both B and Zn (viz; soil application of B @1kg ha-1, Zn@5kg ha-1 and their combinations as well as foliar spray of 0.2% borax, 0.5% ZnSO4 and their combinations along with control) replicated thrice. The results revealed significant variations on yield and yield attributes with soil application of lime and micronutrient such as B and Zn when applied individually but their interactions were not significant. In this study it was found that application of lime and combined foliar spray of micronutrients (0.2% borax and 0.5% ZnSO4) increased the soil pH, EC and OC, as well as uptake and availability of N,P,K,B and Zn in post-harvest soil as compared to control.