Effect of humic acid application on accumulation of mineral nutrition and pungency in garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Abstract

Humic acid promote the conservation of mineral nutritions and as well as stimulate the pungency usually being more prominent in the cloves of garlic bulb. The effect of humic acid application on accumulation of mineral nutritions and pungency in garlic (Allium sativum L.) cv. 'Gangajali' was studied. Here, we obsd. that the max. concn. of Ca, Fe and S were shown when plants were treated with 400 ppm humic acid. While, in the case of Mg, P and Zn content, the max. values were obsd. by application of 200 ppm humic acid. The max. concn. of K, Cu, Mn were obsd. when plants were treated with 300 ppm humic acid. Regarding, pungency, content was detd. as pyruvic acid development significantly increased with increase in concn. of humic acid applications. Our results also showed significant pos. correlations between Mg and P, Mg and Zn, P and Zn, Cu and PAD, and S and PAD, resp. Based on av. values and ANOVA of overall variables, the highest result was obsd. by application of 300 ppm of humic acid followed by 400 and 200 ppm of humic acid, which may be the proper value addn. in garlic bulb by enhancing the mineral nutritions and pyruvic acid development that needs to be studied in the future. [on SciFinder(R)]