Influence of Zeolite Application and Sorbitol Spraying on Cauliflower Growth and Yield

Abstract

Abstract The study was conducted at the Abu Ghraib Research Station - College of Agriculture - University of Anbar during the growing season of 2024 to investigate the effect of adding zeolite at levels of (0, 150, 250, 350 g plant-1) and spraying with sorbitol at levels of (0, 8, 16, 32 g L-1) on the growth and yield of cauliflower. A factorial experiment was carried out according to a randomized completely block design (R.C.B.D) with three replications. The results indicated significant differences upon adding zeolite. Treatment with 350 grams plant-1 showed superiority in plant height (70.79 cm), leaf number (29.05 leaves plant-1), total leaf area (262.9 cm2 plant-1), stem diameter (31.06 mm), dry weight of the total green matter (275.5 grams plant-1), dry weight of the total roots (64.58 grams plant-1) respectively, flower disc diameter (22.570 cm), flower disc circumference (71.08 cm), yield plant-1 (2.690 kg plant-1), and total yield of flower discs (80.68 tons per hectare), compared to the lowest values in the control treatment. As for the interaction between the study factors, the treatment with 350 grams of zeolite plant-1 and spraying with 32 grams of sorbitol liter-1 showed significant superiority in all vegetative growth and yield traits. Plant height was 73.20 cm, total leaf area was 299.5 cm2 plant-1, stem diameter was 35.85 mm, dry weight of total green matter was 340.0 grams plant-1, dry weight of total roots was 76.33 grams plant-1, flower disc circumference was 76.08 cm, flower disc diameter was 24.167 cm, yield plant-1 was 3.123 kg plant-1, and total yield of flower discs was 93.43 tons ha-1 respectively, compared to the lowest values in the control treatment.