Response of foliar application of micronutrients and growth regulators on growth and yield attributes of Cabbage in a Vertisol of Central plain of C.G

Micronutrient and growth regulators both play an important role in sustaining agricultural production under intensive cultivation and changing scenario of climate. Therefore, study was conducted to find out the effect of foliar application of micronutrients and growth regulators on growth and yield attributes of cabbage in a Vertisol. The present investigation was carried out during Rabi Season of the years 2017 and 2018 at Instructional Farm, IGKV Raipur (C.G.) with eighteen different combinations of foliar application of micronutrient (B + Mo + Fe + Zn) and growth regulators (GA3 + NAA) with different micronutrient omission treatments. The present study demonstrates that combined effects of foliar application of micronutrient with growth regulators in Treatment T18 (B + Mo + Fe + Zn + GA + NAA) recorded maximum plant height (27.60 cm), plant spread (62.88 cm2), head diameter (16.17 cm2), leaf yield (22 q ha-1) and head yield (455 q ha-1). of cabbage. However, the micronutrients omission i.e. Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, B and Mo was found to be significantly reduces the plant height, plant spread, leaf and head yield of cabbage. Large reductions in the yield of cabbage were observed with the omission of B (T9) as compared to the other micronutrient omission treatments. This indicates that B (T9) was the most yield limiting micronutrients followed by Fe (T4), Zn (T5) and Cu (T7). However, the foliar application of micronutrient enhances the plant height, fruit diameter, leaf and head yield. Similarly, the foliar fertigation of growth regulators (GA3 and NAA) may also significantly improve the growth and yield of cabbage. The combined effects of foliar application of micronutrient (100 ppm) with GA3 (50 ppm) and NAA (80 ppm) in twice (20 and 40 DAT) was found to be most effective for significant increased in growth, and yield attributes of cabbage. Present work recommended that foliar fertigation of micronutrient (B + Mo + Fe + Zn) with growth regulators (GA + NAA) can enhance the growth and yield performance of cabbage and could alter an economical and simple mechanism for quality cabbage production among the farming community.