Effect of fertilization by potassium humate solution on growth and yield of two cultivars of cauliflower Ponderet and Neblina grown under salt stress at desert regions south of Iraq

Abstract

Experiment was conducted during winter season of 2012-2013 at desert farm in Zubair-Basrah tostudy the effect potassium humate on growth and yield of two cultivars of cauliflower. The experiment includedeight factorial treatments resulted from interaction of four potassium humate solution treatments(0,1,2,3 gm/L) and two cultivars of cauliflower (Ponderet and Neblina).The experiment design was split plotdesign according to randomized complete block design in three replicates. Means were compared by Duncanmultiple range test at 0.05 level. Results showed that Ponderet cultivar was superior in flower head diameterwhile Neblina in stem weight. Potassium humate caused a significant effect on all studied characteristics andthe most effective concentration was 3 gm/L. which caused a significant increase total leave number, leafarea, leaf width, dry matter, head weight and diameter, total yield, marketable yield and dry matter percentageof head compared to control treatment. The interaction was significant in most studied characteristics.Treatment with potassium humate at 3gm/L. gave a highest yield of Neblina cultivar which was 42.072ton/donum and the highest marketable yield of Ponderet cultivar which was 28.652 ton/donum.