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Partial substitution of mineral fertilizer with biofertilizer enhances cauliflower nutritional quality, yield, and soil characteristics
Author(s) -
Yang Ping,
Lyu Jian,
Sohail Hamza,
Yu Jihua,
Xie Jianming,
Li Jie
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.1002/csc2.20023
Subject(s) - biofertilizer , fertilizer , agronomy , brassica oleracea , horticulture , crop , crop yield , biology
Cauliflower ( Brassica oleracea L. var . botrytis L.) is as an important ingredient in many healthy diets worldwide, but there is a lack of scientific knowledge about fertilizer management during cauliflower production. We conducted field experiments in Yuzhong, China, in 2015 and 2016 to determine the effects of the integrated use of biofertilizer and a reduced rate of mineral fertilizers on cauliflower growth, quality, and yield and on soil characteristics. Three different rates of mineral fertilizer (60, 80, and 100% of the mineral fertilizers; 100% rate = 400 N kg ha −1 , 225 kg P 2 O 5 ha −1 , 125 kg K 2 O ha −1 ) and 500 kg ha −1 biofertilizer were applied to the crop with three replicates. The results showed that the use of the mineral fertilizer at 80% in combination with biofertilizer (80% BF) increased the vitamin C content of cauliflower heads by 39.5% in 2015 and 43.6% in 2016 compared with the 100% mineral fertilization treatment (100% MF). The 80% BF treatment decreased the nitrate content by 27.1% in 2015 and 27.6% in 2016 and improved the soluble sugar contents by 19.1% in 2015 and 29.5% in 2016 compared with the 100% MF treatment. However, the effect of the 80% BF treatment on marketable yield was found to be nonsignificant. Biofertilization also improved the soil organic matter, available N, P, and K, and enzyme activities. We observed that conjugative use of biofertilizer and a reduction in mineral N–P–K fertilizer can be used successfully in cauliflower production without compromising marketable yields.