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Research on Crops

Interactive effects of coco peat and organic fermented foliar sprays on growth, yield, and quality of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea)


DOI: 10.31830/2348-7542.2025.ROC-1239    | Article Id: ROC-1239 | Page : 633-640
Citation :- Interactive effects of coco peat and organic fermented foliar sprays on growth, yield, and quality of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea). Res. Crop. 26: 633-640
RAWAA G. MAJEED AL-HELFIE, ABEER D. SALMAN AND YASAMEN F. SALOOM rawa@coagri.uobaghdad.edu.iq
Address : Department of Horticulture and Landscape Gardening,, College of Agriculture Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad, Iraq
Submitted Date : 12-09-2025
Accepted Date : 9-10-2025
Online Published:

Abstract

Sustainable agriculture requires eco-friendly inputs to improve crop productivity while reducing reliance on chemicals. Coco peat enhances root growth and nutrient availability, while fermented fish waste and sugarcane juice provide essential nutrients and growth stimulants. To further evaluate, a study was carried out during the fall season of 2024–2025 at University of Baghdad – Al-Jadiryah campus. Following standard field preparation, cauliflower (Brassica oleracea cv. Casper) saplings were transplanted on October 15, 2024, into raised beds in double rows (75 cm × 40 cm). The trial was conducted as a 5×3 factorial experiment in a split-plot RCBD, with coco peat as the main plot and foliar sprays as subplot. The main plot comprised of application of coco peat at three rates (0, 2, and 4 kg/m²), while the sub plot involved foliar application of sugarcane juice ferment and fish waste ferment at two concentrations each (3 and 6 mL/L), in addition to a distilled water control.  The results showed that the two-way interaction between 4 kg/m² of coco peat and foliar application of fish ferment at 6 mL/L significantly enhanced vegetative growth, resulting in the highest number of leaves (35.33 leaves/plant), largest leaf area (38.08 dm²), and highest chlorophyll content (50.10 SPAD units). The same treatment also excelled in plant yield traits (flower head diameter, flower head weight and total yield), recording 24.33 cm, 2.12 kg, and 70.83 t/ha, respectively. The treatment also gave the highest content of secondary metabolites (folic acid, choline and sulforaphane) in flower heads with values of 133.2 mg/g, 66.04 mg/100 g, and 49.07 mg/100g, respectively, while the control treatment recorded the highest nitrate concentration in the flower heads at 841.3 mg/100 g.

Keywords

Coco peat choline fish extract sugarcane extract sulforaphane

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