This research was conducted at Sylhet Agricultural University to evaluate the effects of different foliar boron application methods on growth, yield and phytochemical composition of Tori-7 (Brassica campestris). Three treatments each having four replications were evaluated: T1, no boron application (control), T2 a single foliar spray of 0.5% boron during the vegetative stage, and T3 two foliar applications of 1.5% boron during the vegetative and pod-forming stages. Boron application significantly increased several growth and yield parameters, including plant height, number of leaves per plant, number of branches per plant, root length, inflorescence length, number of siliquae per plant, number of seeds per siliqua, seed yield, stover yield, 1000-seed weight, biological yield, and harvest index. The T3 treatment produced the highest number of siliquae per plant (121.15), seeds per siliqua (11.75), stover yield (1641.69 kg ha-1), and 1000-seed weight (3.25gm), seed yield (1035.37 kg ha-1). However, the plant population was not substantially impacted by the various boron treatments. In terms of the phytochemical makeup, the study discovered that among the treatments, boron had no significant effect on the total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. Total flavonoid content ranged from 17.05 mg Qe/g to 15.99 mg Qe/g, and total phenolic content ranged from 14.97 mg GAE/g to 14.71 mg GAE/g. Further studies involving different mustard varieties and growing conditions are recommended to better understand the effect of boron as a micronutrient.

Keywords: Boron application, Brassica campestris, Tori-7 mustard, Foliar spray, Yield parameters, Phytochemical composition, Micronutrient deficiency

An experiment was conducted at the Field Research Site of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur-1706 during November 2011 to March 2012 to study the response of wheat to foliar application of urea fertilizer. Three fertilizer treatments were maintained in the 3m × 2m experimental plots in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). A non-fertilized control was compared with two foliar fertilized treatments receiving 20 kg ha-1 of N in soil at crop emergence and also received foliar spray of 1% and 2% urea in each time at 36, 53 and 68 Days After Sowing (DAS). Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) value was taken from middle portion of the latest fully developed leaf of tagged plants at 3 day interval from 36 DAS using Minolta Chlorophyll meter upto 89 DAS. Perusal of the data revealed that significant effect was found in total dry matter production, leaf area index and SPAD values for chlorophyll content. Significant increase was recorded in number of effective tillers m-2, spikelets spike-1, grains spike-1, thousand-grain weight and grain yield with foliar application of urea. Foliar application of 2% urea resulted in maximum number of effective tillers m-2, spikelets spike-1, grains spike-1 and grain yield. Maximum thousand-grain weight was recorded from 1% urea spray which was statistically similar to that of 2% urea foliar spray. It was concluded that foliar spray of 1% urea solution at tillering, jointing and booting stages along with 20 kg ha-1 of N at crop emergence helped in enhancing yield and yield components of wheat.

Keywords: Wheat, foliar spray, SPAD, grain yield