Mineral Uptake and Productivity Improvement of Cabbage Crop with Gibberellins Treatment

Abstract

Gibberellins (GAs) are vital plant growth controllers that influence leaf expansion, cell elongation and nutrient absorption. This study reconnoitered the effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) application on mineral uptake and productivity of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.). Five treatments of GA3 at 0 (control) to 200 mg L⁻¹ were applied to plants at the vegetative and early head formation stages of cabbage crop. The 150 mg L⁻¹ treatment significantly improved plant height (31.6 ± 1.2 cm), leaf number (14.4 ± 0.6), leaf area (182.3 ± 5.4 cm²), fresh biomass (158.2 ± 3.8 g), and dry biomass (17.3 ± 0.7 g). Photosynthetic rate (19.8 ± 0.4 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹), stomatal conductance (0.41 ± 0.01 mol H₂O m⁻² s⁻¹), and transpiration rate (5.3 ± 0.2 mmol H₂O m⁻² s⁻¹) were also highest at this level. Furthermore, N, P and K uptake peaked at 150 mg L⁻¹ with 2.34, 0.41 and 3.26%, respectively, in plant tissue. This study advocates 150 mg L⁻¹ GA3 as the prime concentration to augment cabbage productivity and mineral adeptness.