Broccoli growth, yield quantity and quality as affected by cobalt nutrition

Abstract

Two experiments were carried out included a pot preliminary greenhouse experiment to choose the most effective levels of cobalt on broccoli growth and yield and a field experiment to evaluate the vegetative growth, heads quantity and quality as well as nutrients content of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var.italica) as affected by using different levels of cobalt concentrations. The obtained results showed that the addition of 6 ppm cobalt had a significant positive effect on broccoli growth, head yield and quality. Higher concentrations exerted hazards effect. The content of Mn, Zn and Cu in heads increased with the increase in cobalt application. On the other hand, the opposite trend was observed with Fe. Cobalt rate at 6 ppm increased the concentrations of N, P and K, but further increasing in cobalt concentrations addition decreased N, P and K in broccoli heads.