The Response of Cauliflower Growth and Yield to Organic and Chemical Fertilizers Application and Spraying With Salicylic Acid

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out during fall season of 2020 in the station (A) - College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad. In order to study the effect of organic and chemical fertilizers and spraying of salicylic acid on growth and yield of Cauliflower (hybrid Steady) .The experiment included two factors, the first factor was used the chemical fertilizers half according to the recommendation (Z1) and the chemical fertilizers according to the recommendation N: 125 kg ha-1, P2O5 135 kg ha-1 and K2O135 kg ha-1 (Z2), The Organic Fertilizer Manufacturer (Fertisoil) added in three levels, the first level is 1 ton.ha-1(Z3) and the second level is 2 ton.ha-1(Z4) and the third level is 3 ton.ha-1 (Z5) They were added before planting. The second factor is spraying with salicylic acid in three concentrations, which is spraying with distilled water (S0) as the control treatment. (S1) salicylic acid at a concentration of 100 mg.l-1 and (S2) at a concentration of 200 mg.l-1 and by three sprays after the first transplantation after 20 days of transfer The experiment was carried out as a Factorial experiment according to a randomized complete block design (R.C.B.D). The results showed. The treatment of organic fertilizer Z5 was significantly superior in all indicators of vegetative growth and yield . It gave the highest values of plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, dry weight of the vegetative growth. Its also significantly exceeded the head diameter, the head weight, and the total yield of the heads، The S2 treatment excelled in all the vegetative growth and yield characteristics as it gave the highest values compared to the control treatment. The interaction treatment (Z5*S2) was significantly superior in all the vegetative growth and yield characteristics as it was given. Plant height (70.65 cm), total number of leaves (25.57 leaf. Plant-1), leaf area (11537.0 dm2.Plant-1), and dry weight of the vegetative growth (249.20 g). It also excelled in the yield indicators: the head diameter (25.87 cm), the head weight (1795.0 g. head -1) and the total yield of the heads (59,830 ton. ha-1). Also, the treatment of )Z4*S2( did not differ significantly with it in the yield characteristics the head diameter (25.68 cm) and the head weight (1763.0 g head -1) and the total yield of the heads (58.767 ton. ha-1). Therefore, we can suggest to increase the curds yield and total cauliflower yield to add (2 ton ha-l)level Fertisoil organic fertilizer with salicylic spray at 200mg / L -1 to reduce costs.