{Effect of different phosphorus fertilizer rates and foliar spray with some commercial nutrients on growth and yield of broccoli grown in sandy soils}

Two field experiments were carried out during thetwo successive winter seasons of 2008/2009 and
2009/2010 under newly sandy reclaimed soil at Sadat City, Menoufia governorate, Egypt. The aim of these
experiments is to study the vegetative growth and chemical parameters of broccoli plants cv. Condi as
influenced by phosphorus fertilizer rates (50, 75, 100 and 125units of P2O5/fed.) as rock phosphate(22.8 %
P2O5) applied as soil addition compared with foliar spray 1 gr/l with some commercialnutrients(Amifol k its
contentpotassium oxide 46.5%, Amino acids 6.5%, Tradebor its content 11 % B and TradecropeAzII its
content Fe 7.5 %, Zn 2.48 %, Mn 3.5 %, Cu 1%, B 0.65 % and Mo 0.3%EDTA). Foliar sprayofbroccoli plants
by Amifol k as minor nutritional fertilizer at level of 1g/l gained the best plant growth and yield when compared
with the other Compounds. In the same regards, the highest total yield as tons/fed., and the head weight, head
diameter as well as chemical contents, ascorbic acid, and total soluble solids of the apical head tissues were
recorded with the addition of 100 unit of rock phosphate fertilizer rates. The obtained results strongly indicated
that the vigor plant growth expressed as length, leavesnumber, leaf area, fresh and dry weights of broccoli plant
were detected with plants supplied with 100 units of P2O5/fed. Also, the chemical contents, i.e., ascorbic acid,
and total soluble solids of flowertissues followed the same trend of vegetative growth. The interaction between
the application rates of phosphate and foliar applications of commercial nutrients had significant effect at P 5%
level on all measured parameters in both seasons. The highest values of N, P and K, contentsin apical head
tissues, head flower yield and vegetative growth properties resulted bybroccoli plants which received the
phosphorus .rate (100 units of P2O5/fed.) and sprayed by Amifol k at the dose of 1g/l.