Effect of biocar, earthworms and mycorrhizal fungi on some yield and quality characteristics of cauliflower plants

Abstract

A factorial experiment was applied in the greenhouse of nursery of the Directorate of Agriculture in Baqubah, Diyala Province, 2024. The aim was to study the effect of the Funneliformis mosseae fungus, biocar, Eisenia fetida earthworm, and their interaction on some qualitative and quantitative traits of cauliflower Brassica oleracea var. Botrytis L. that grown in plastic pots. The results indicated a significant increase in the characteristics of the inflorescence disc and the yield. The interaction between the mycorrhizal fungus and 1 g of biocar significantly outperformed the other treatments in fresh and dry weight of the inflorescence disc, diameter and height of the inflorescence disc, yield of the experimental unit, and total yield. The results were 325.00 g, 23.22 g, 12.66 cm, 9.5 cm, 975 g, and 1218.75 g. kg. dunum-1, respectively, compared to the control treatment, which was 65.00 g, 3.62 g, 4.66 cm, 4.66 cm, 195 g, and 243.75 kg. dunum-1, respectively. There was also an increase in the content of nutritionally important substances in the disc. The interaction treatment between mycorrhizal fungi, earthworms, and 2 g of biocar significantly outperformed the other treatments in the percentage of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, total sugars, fiber, and sulfur. These percentages were 11.36%, 4.27%, 1.29%, 7.19%, 4.24%, and 0.78%, respectively, compared to the control treatment, which was 6.71%, 1.81%, 0.28%, 4.83%, 1.83%, and 0.08%, respectively.