Open AccessEffect of zeolite on the growth and yield of broccoli in the dry season
Author(s) -
Karistsapol Nooprom,
Pongsak Mansuriwong,
Supakracha Apiratikorn
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plant science today
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2348-1900
DOI - 10.14719/pst.1041
Subject(s) - zeolite , yield (engineering) , randomized block design , brassica oleracea , cultivar , dry season , horticulture , agronomy , dry weight , nutrient , chemistry , biology , materials science , ecology , biochemistry , metallurgy , catalysis , organic chemistry
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica Plenck) growth and yield are impacted in warmer climates, especially during the dry season. Broccoli gives low yield and quality although it is heat-tolerant cultivars. Zeolite is an organic material recognized as suitable for dry season plant growth because it can adsorb cations, nutrients and water and release on demand from the plant. Application of zeolite in the soil may improve broccoli growth and yield during the dry season. The trial preparation followed a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications involving five amounts of zeolite at 0, 1.56, 3.12, 4.68 and 6.24 t ha-1 using broccoli cultivar ‘Top Green’. Results showed that zeolite applications of 4.68 and 6.24 t ha-1 improved growth and yield parameters including plant width, stem diameter, time to 50% flowering and harvest, head diameter and head weight better than the other treatments. Application of zeolite at 6.24 t ha-1 gave high total broccoli yield of 8.45 t ha-1 but not significantly different (p?0.05) from 4.68 t ha-1 that gave 7.89 t ha-1. Results indicated that application of zeolite at 4.68 t ha-1 was optimal for reducing drought stress and enhancing effective growth and yield of broccoli.