Kirkuk University Journal for Agricultural Sciences (KUJAS)

Impact of Planting Date, Foliar Application of Boron and Vermiwash on Vegetative Growth, Mineral Nutrients and Yield of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.)

https://doi.org/10.58928/ku26.17216
Volume 17, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Page 146-155
Kirkuk University Journal for Agricultural Sciences (KUJAS)

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Mariam Abdulrahman Mustafa 1
Ghurbat Hassan Mohammed 2

1 Department of Horticulture, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Duhok, Kurdistan region, IRAQ.

2 Dep. Horti, Coll. Agric. Engine. Scien. University of Duhok

Abstract
This study was carried out during growing season 202 -2025 in the plastic house (500 m2) at the Agricultural Research Directorate to study the impact of two planting date (15th August and 1st September), three levels of boron (0, 40 and 80 mg L-1) and three levels of vermiwash (0, 6 and 12ml L-1) on vegetative growth (plant height and leaf area), mineral nutrients (nitrogen percentage, phosphorous percentage and potassium percentage) and yield (average fresh weight of curd and total yield) of cauliflower plant. The experiment was implicated in a factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The results showed that the 1st September significantly enhanced plant height (cm), and leaves potassium%. The foliar application of 40 and 80 mg L-1 of boron significantly enhanced of plant height (cm), leaf area (cm2), leaves nitrogen%, leaves phosphorous%, leaves potassium%, average fresh weight of curd (kg plant-1) and total yield (kg unit-1). Similarly, vermiwash showed positive and significant effects on all studied parameters except leaf area (cm2) and leaves nitrogen%. The combined influence of two factors namely planting date and boron, planting date and vermiwash and boron and vermiwash had a significant impact on all vegetative growth and yield parameters. Notably, the interaction among 1st September, 80 mg l-1 boron and 12 ml l-1 vermiwash exhibited the most substantial effects, resulting in the highest plant height (cm), leaf area (cm2), average fresh weight of curd (kg plant-1) and total yield (kg unit-1).
Cauliflower (brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.) is an important vegetable crop that belongs to the Brassicaceae family.

Keywords

Brassicaceae
mineral nutrients
organic fertilization
plastic house
liquid fertilizer
Subjects
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