Response of Cauliflower to Different Forms of Boron and Relation to Boron Availability in Red and Lateritic Soils of West Midnapore District of West Bengal

Abstract

<jats:p>A field experiment on Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) was conducted to study the different form of Boron deficiency which in terms will increase yield of Cauliflower in red and lateritic soils during 2011-12 at Kapgari village of Seva Bharati Krishi Vigyan Kendra at West Midnapore district of West Bengal. The design adopted was Randomised Block Design (RBD) having ten replications with four treatments. The different forms of boron treated cauliflower plants attributed higher yields over control. Among different treatments evaluated, the treatment T3 i.e. FYM @ 10 t/ha + Boric acid (20% Boron) @ 0.3% as foliar spray after one month of planting showed better yield (91% fresh curd harvested) and quality in respect to curd size (24 cm) and weight (2.70 kg) followed marginally by T4 i.e. FYM @ 10 t/ha + Total B2O (liquid Boron - 20% Boron) @ 1.5 g/L of water as foliar spray after one month of planting in all aspects followed by T1 i.e. Farmyard manure @ 10 t/ha as basal dose and T2 i.e. FYM @ 10 t/ha+ Borax @ 15 kg/ha as basal dose respectively. Treatment T3 also achieved 13.41%, 51.66% and 139.47% more fresh curds as compared to T4, T2 and T1 respectively. Treatment T4 showed improved performance (82% fresh curd) after T3 which achieve economic thresh level over T2 (60% fresh curd) and T1 (38% fresh curd) respectively. Lower curd size recorded with T1 (16 cm) followed by T2 (18 cm) and T4 (20 cm). T3 recorded highest weight of the curd (2.7 kg) as compared to T1 (1.25 kg), T2 (1.5 kg) and T4 (2.0 kg). Highest available form of boron in the soil is found in T3 (37.50 ppm) followed by T4 (35.0 ppm), T2 (30.62 ppm) and T1 (27.4 ppm) respectively. It is clearly understood that Treatment T3 i.e. FYM @ 10 t/ha + Boric acid (20% B) @ 0.3% as foliar spray after one month of planting emerged out to be the best treatment in respect to yield, curd size and weight of curd.</jats:p>