Growth Response of Two Broccoli Varieties to Zinc Sulfate Spray and Potassium Sulfate Soil Application

Abstract

The experiment was carried out in the Mosul Forest Area field of the College of Agriculture and Forestry, University of  Mosul, during autumn 2024 and winter 2025, to study the response of the vegetative growth characteristics of two varieties of broccoli (Naxos, Blue Finn) to the effect of three concentrations of zinc sulfate (0, 500,750 mg.L^-1) and three levels of potassium sulfate (0,200,400 ton.h^-1). The experiment was carried out in the field using a factorial experiment within split plots in the design of complete random segments (RCBD) with three replicates, where the varieties were placed in the main plots and the compatibility between the fertilization treatments by zinc and potassium sulfate in the secondary plots (Sub plots) was repeated for each treatment three times. The study showed that plants of the Blue Finn variety achieved the highest leaf chlorophyll content when sprayed with 750 mg. liter^-1 of zinc sulphate and add 200 ton.h^-1 potassium sulfate reached 8.8467 mg. ml^-1 suspension, and the highest plant height reached 78.893 cm.plant^-1 when sprayed with zinc sulphate at a concentration of 750 mg.L^-1 and adding potassium sulfate at the level of 200 ton.h^-1 highest number of leaves with 21.997 leave.Plant^-1 When not spraying zinc sulphate and adding 200 ton.h^-1 Potassium sulphate The highest significant value of the foliar area reached 48179 cm².Plant^-1 when not spraying zinc sulphate and adding 400 ton. h^-1 of potassium sulfate. Plants of the Naxos variety achieved the highest percentage of dry matter in the leaves when sprayed with 750 mg liter^-1 of zinc sulphate and 400 ton.h^-1 of potassium sulphate amounted to 14.4533%.