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Influence of Planting Date and Foliar Application of Marine-Fert on the Growth, Yield, and Nutrient Content of Three Broccoli Hybrids (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) Under Plastic House Conditions

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Document Type : Research Paper

Abstract

The experiment was conducted during the fall season of 2024 and extended until March 2025 inside a 500 m² plastic house located at Malta Nursery, which is affiliated with the Directorate of Horticulture in Duhok City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of two planting dates (September 15 and October 1), three broccoli hybrids (Batavia, Covina, and Lucky), and three concentrations of seaweed extract (Marine-Fert) (0, 1, and 2 ml/L) on various parameters of broccoli, including vegetative growth, yield performance, and nutrient content under protected cultivation conditions.

Foliar spraying of the Marine-Fert seaweed extract was carried out three times throughout the growing season. The first foliar application began 15 days after transplanting, and the following sprays were applied at 15-day intervals. The aim was to monitor how these treatments influenced the physiological and productive traits of the broccoli plants.

The findings demonstrated that the second planting date (October 1) significantly enhanced the main head weight (978.44 g/head), phosphorus content (0.526%), and potassium content (6.10%). In contrast, the first planting date (September 15) resulted in a higher lateral floret yield (494.59 g/plant) and nitrogen content (2.28%).

Among the three hybrids, ‘Lucky’ exhibited superior performance, recording the highest values for main head weight (1029.17 g/head), lateral floret yield (520.33 g/plant), total yield (38.74 tons/hectare), and nitrogen content (2.28%).

Moreover, the foliar application of Marine-Fert at 2 ml/L yielded the best outcomes in terms of growth and productivity. These results highlight the critical role of optimized planting time, hybrid selection, and foliar nutrition in improving broccoli production under plastic house conditions.

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Kirkuk University Journal for Agricultural Sciences (KUJAS)
Volume 16, Issue 4 - Issue Serial Number 4
December 2025
Page 63-72
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