Efficacy of boron and molybdenum on growth, yield and quality parameters of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.)

Abstract

The investigation was carried out on cauliflower cv. ‘Pusa Snowball-16’ at Agricultural Research Farm in the Department of Horticulture, School of Agriculture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur (Rajasthan) during rabi season of 2024-25. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications which comprises of sixteen treatment combinations included four different levels of Boric acid (0, 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 %) and four levels of Ammonium molybdate (0, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 %) and treatments were replicated three times. transplanting was done in mid-October by following 60 cm row to row and 45 cm plant to plant spacing.The various concentrations of boric acid and ammonium molybdatehad significant effect on various vegetative growth, yield and quality parameters and the maximum (45.41 cm) plant height, (16.13) leaves per plant, longest leaf (32.02 cm) and stalk length (33.80 cm, maximum (28.56 cm) width of largest leaf, minimum (61.48 days) for 50% curd initiation and (70.75 days) for 50% curd maturity, maximum (18.66 cm) diameter and (9.12 cm) curd length heaviest (993.14 g) fresh weight and highest (36.05 t/ha) marketable yield of curds, maximum (9.28 ° Brix) TSS and (46.07 mg/100 g) vitamin-C content were recorded under boric acid @ 0.5 % + ammonium molybdate @ 0.2 % treatment. Results further indicated that the maximum net return (₹. 1,99,349.50/ha) and the highest B: C ratio (2.72) of cauliflower production was recorded under boric acid @ 0.5 % + ammonium molybdate @ 0.2 % treatment followed by (₹. 1,75,790.76/ha) with (2.52) B:C ratio under boric acid @ 0.5 % + ammonium molybdate @ 0.1 % treatment. Whereas, Whereas, the minimum net return (₹. 56,684.55 /ha) and lowest B: C ratio (1.50) was recorded in control.