Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.var italica Plenck) is an important winter season exotic vegetable from the Brassicaceae family as well as heavy feeder of plant nutrients. Plant nutrition is one of the prime considerations for getting higher yield of any crop. Mineral fertilizer improves growth and yield of broccoli due to the role of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium on the meristematic activity. Boron and molybdenum are essential micronutrients required for normal plant growth and development. Plants differ widely in their requirements, but the ranges of deficiency and toxicity are narrow. Boron and molybdenum deficiencies are very common in Cole crops. Deficiency causes many anatomical, physiological, and biological changes. The deficiency of boron and molybdenum has threatened the ever increasing areas of broccoli. The effected heads become irregular in shape, smaller in size and bitter in taste which adversely affects the market demand of the crop. No systematic work so far has been done in production technology of sprouting broccoli in relation to response of nutrients in the gangetic plains of West Bengal. The present investigation was attempted to find out the growth, yield, and quality of broccoli on the aspects of minor mineral (boron and molybdenum) nutrition. The experiments were conducted at the Horticultural Research Station of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mondouri, Nadia, West Bengal, during 2010–12 with four levels of boron (0, 15, 18, and 21 kg ha⁻¹) and molybdenum (0, 1.2, 1.5, and 1.8 kg ha⁻¹). Design of the experiment was a Factorial Randomized Block Design. Biometric observations were recorded from the selected plant from each plot and each replication of both the years. It was concluded from the results that under favorable agro-climatic conditions, the application of 18 kg borax and 1.8 kg ammonium molybdate ha⁻¹ was found beneficial for growth, yield, and quality of broccoli.

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is a prominent spice and vegetable crop farmed commercially worldwide. Variability is viewed as a key signal for any red onion enhancement effort. The current study was, therefore, carried out to learn about genetic variability and diversity among selected genotypes of 20 red onions at the C Block Farm, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, India, during the winter (rabi) season of 2021–2022, in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The characters, viz., average weight of bulbs (kg), neck thickness (cm), total soluble solids (°Brix), total sugar (%), and reducing sugar (%) demonstrated high heritability (97.38–99.97%) coupled with high genetic gain. Such traits were the least influenced by environmental effects, and additive gene action played a pivotal role in the manifestation of such characters. Traits with high heritability values (51.37–67.94%) demonstrate that the observed variability was under genetic control and provide an enormous range of possibilities for accomplishing selection depending on their phenotypic performances. For traits with moderate heritability, viz., bolting (%) and doubling (%), selection would be less effective but can still be given great importance. Based on correlation analysis, the character’s neck thickness, equatorial diameter, and polar diameter unveiled highly positive genetic correlation with the average weight of bulbs (0.120, 0.112; 0.194, 0.210 and 0.120, 0.112 for phenotypic and genotypic correlation coefficient values, respectively), which indicates that the average weight of a bulb would be increased by an increase in such components. According to path coefficient analysis, the equatorial diameter exhibited the most positive direct effect on the average weight of bulbs (0.968), followed by polar diameter (0.687) and neck thickness (0.159). A wide range of variations for qualitative traits, including foliage colour, leaf width, foliage behaviour, the degree of leaf waxiness, the shape of the bulb, and bulb skin colour were observed. Based on Mahalanobish D² analysis, the genotypes were divided into four clusters. The highest number of genotypes was found in cluster I (eleven), followed by cluster IV (six genotypes) and cluster II (two genotypes). Cluster III had a single genotype and was monogenic. The study confirmed that a wide genetic variation prevailed in the onion genotypes taken under study, which could thereby be utilized in breeding programmes.

Hydroponics, the practice of growing plants without soil using mineral nutrient solutions in water, represents a significant shift in agricultural methodologies. Modern hydroponic systems have evolved substantially since the early 20th century, with advancements in system design, automation, nutrient management, and environmental control enhancing efficiency, scalability, and applicability. This review examines recent innovations that have addressed traditional challenges and created new opportunities for hydroponic cultivation. Hydroponics offers advantages over traditional soil-based agriculture, including precise nutrient control, reduced water usage, and the elimination of soil-borne diseases and pests. These benefits are critical in addressing modern agricultural challenges such as soil degradation, water scarcity, and the need for increased food production for a growing global population. Hydroponic systems can be implemented in diverse environments, making them adaptable solutions for enhancing food security and sustainability. Key developments in various hydroponic systems are highlighted, including the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), Deep Water Culture (DWC), Ebb and Flow, Aeroponics, Wick Systems, and Drip Systems. Innovations in these systems focus on optimizing nutrient delivery, oxygenation, and integrating sensors for precise control, improving overall performance and yield. Technological advancements, such as automation and control systems, sensors, and monitoring technologies, have revolutionized hydroponic farming by enabling real-time data collection and environmental management. The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and smart farming practices, combined with data analytics and machine learning, has further optimized system performance and decision-making. LED lighting and vertical farming techniques have maximized space utilization and improved crop yields, particularly in urban environments. Advances in nutrient solutions, disease management, and water quality have optimized plant health and resource efficiency. Economic and environmental considerations, including cost-benefit analyses and comparisons with traditional agriculture, highlight the potential for hydroponics to offer better returns on investment and reduce environmental impact. Despite the significant progress, challenges such as high initial setup costs and technical complexities remain. Future research opportunities and interdisciplinary collaborations are essential to address these challenges and drive further innovation in hydroponic farming.

Naturally occurring substances called plant hormones are essential for controlling the growth and development of plants. They coordinate several physiological processes inside the plant by acting as chemical messengers. To control their growth and reactions to their surroundings, plants have their own unique set of hormones. Plant hormones come in various forms, such as Ethylene, gibberellins, auxins, cytokinins, and abscisic acid. Every hormone affects plant development differently. For instance, cytokinins stimulate cell division and encourage shoots’ growth, whereas auxins encourage cell elongation and root formation. Abscisic acid aids in seed dormancy and stress responses, gibberellins control stem elongation and blooming, and Ethylene is involved in fruit ripening and senescence. These hormones form a complicated network that influences one another’s behaviour and reacts to different environmental inputs. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are used to change a plant’s development in various ways, including promoting branching, decreasing shoot growth, increasing return bloom, eliminating extra fruit, or changing the maturity of the fruit. PGR performance is influenced by a wide range of parameters, such as the degree to which the plant absorbs the chemical, the age and vigour of the tree, the dosage, the timing, the cultivar, and the weather before, during, and after application. Farmers and scientists may control plant growth and development to increase crop production, improve fruit quality, and strengthen resistance to stressors by knowing the functions and interactions of these hormones. Plants control several aspects of the hormone response system, such as biosynthesis, metabolism, sensing, and signalling. Furthermore, plants have the rare capacity to regulate the dispersion of hormones in space.

EVALUATION OF SPROUTING BROCCOLI (Brassicae oleraceae var. italica) GENOTYPES FOR GROWTH, YIELD AND QUALITY, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.9735/0975-3710.4.7.284-286, URL: http://www.bioinfopublication.org/viewhtml.php?artid=BIA0001206, Int J Agr Sci 4.7 (2012):284-286