Effect of spraying salicylic acid and pharmaton on growth and yield of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) in a salt affected soil

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at Horticulture experimental station - college of Agriculture – University of Diyala during autumn season 2014 to investigate the effects of two factors: spraying salicylic acid, pharmaton and their interaction on growth and yield of cauliflower. The Experiment included 6 treatments represent between three levels of spraying salicylic acid: 0, 100, 200 mg.L-1, and two levels of spraying pharmaton 0 and 125 mg.L-1. Drip irrigation system type T-Tape was used with 40 cm distance between plants. Experiment was designed in Factorial Experiment according the R.C.B.D with three replicates and the means were compared according to L.S.D. test at the probability level 0.05. Result showed that spraying with 200 mg.L-1 salicylic acid gave a significant increase in plant height 54.9 cm, curd weight 0.89 Kg. Plant-1 , and the marketable yield 24.72 Ton.H-1 respectively compared with control treatment . Plant height, curd weight and the marketable yield weight were decreased in to 44.65 cm, 0.52 Kg. Plant-1 and 14.45 Ton. H-1 respectively. Spraying with 100 mg.L-1 salicylic acid increased curd diameter to 18.3 cm, while it was decreased in control treatment to 17.0 cm.Spraying of pharmaton gave a significant increase in plant height, Curd diameters, curd weight and the marketable yield weight 54.1 cm, 17. 9 cm, 0.90 Kg. plant1- and 25 Ton. H1- respectively, as compared with non- spraying treatment. Plant height, curd diameter, curd weight and the marketable yield weight decreased to 47.8 cm, 17.0 cm, 0.62 Kg. Plant-1 and 17.31 Ton. H-1. Spraying with salicylic acid 200 mg.L-1 gave a significant increase in plant height as compared with control treatment. Interaction treatment between spraying of salicylic acid 100 mg.L-1 and spraying pharmaton gave a significant increase in leaves numbers as compared with control treatment. Spraying pharmaton only gave a significant increase in curd diameters, curd weight and the marketable curds weight as compared with control treatment.