Effect of Foliar Micronutrient Application on Growth, Physiological Traits and Flower Yield of Jasminum multiflorum (Pink Kakada)

Abstract

Micronutrients play an essential role in regulating plant growth, physiological processes and flower production in ornamental crops. A field experiment was conducted during 2019–2020 at the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, to evaluate the influence of foliar application of micronutrients on the growth, physiological characteristics and flower yield of Jasminum multiflorum (L.) Burm. f. cv. Pink Kakada. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design comprising nine treatments with three replications. Healthy, uniform three-year-old plants were maintained under recommended agronomic practices, and foliar sprays were applied at 30-day intervals during the crop growth period. The treatments consisted of control, ferrous sulphate (0.25%), zinc sulphate (0.25%), boric acid (0.20%), manganese sulphate (0.25%), FeSO₄ + ZnSO₄, FeSO₄ + boric acid, ZnSO₄ + boric acid and FeSO₄ + ZnSO₄ + boric acid. Significant differences were observed among the treatments for vegetative growth, physiological and biochemical attributes and flower yield. The combined application of FeSO₄ (0.25%) + ZnSO₄ (0.25%) + boric acid (0.20%) (T₉) recorded the highest plant height (94.82 cm), plant spread (99.85 cm), leaf area (15.08 cm²), phenol content (10.84 mg g⁻¹), protein content (12.58 mg g⁻¹), nitrate reductase activity (3.08 µg NO₂ g⁻¹ h⁻¹), specific leaf weight (0.352 g cm⁻²), dry matter production (886.42 kg ha⁻¹), number of cymes per plant (268.54) and flower yield (13.96 t ha⁻¹). The results demonstrated that the combined foliar application of iron, zinc and boron significantly enhanced vegetative growth, physiological efficiency and flower productivity of Jasminum multiflorum cv. Pink Kakada and may be recommended for improving commercial flower production.