Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology

The present investigation was carried out during the Rabi season of 2025–26 at the Agricultural Research Farm, School of Agriculture, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, to evaluate the influence of foliar applications of Salicylic Acid (SA), Gibberellic Acid (GA₃), and Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) at different growth stages on the growth, yield, quality attributes, and economics of sprouting broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica cv. Festival F1 Hybrid). The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications comprising ten treatments: T₀ (Water Spray - Control), T₁ (NAA @ 70 ppm at 15 DAT), T₂ (NAA @ 70 ppm at 30 DAT), T₃ (NAA @ 70 ppm at 45 DAT), T₄ (GA₃ @ 70 ppm at 15 DAT), T₅ (GA₃ @ 70 ppm at 30 DAT), T₆ (GA₃ @ 70 ppm at 45 DAT), T₇ (Salicylic acid @ 70 ppm at 15 DAT), T₈ (Salicylic acid @ 70 ppm at 30 DAT), and T₉ (Salicylic acid @ 70 ppm at 45 DAT). The results revealed that vegetative characters were significantly influenced by synthetic auxin application, with NAA @ 70 ppm applied at 45 DAT (T3) recording the maximum plant height at 45 DAT (29.87 cm) and 60 DAT (30.77 cm), as well as the highest number of leaves per plant (17.86 and 21.11, respectively). Total leaf chlorophyll content was highest (2.80 mg/g fresh weight) under NAA @ 70 ppm applied at 30 DAT (T₂). In contrast, curd yield attributes, yield, and functional quality parameters responded most favourably to gibberellin intervention. A foliar spray of GA₃ @ 70 ppm at 45 DAT (T₆) was significantly superior in maximising primary curd weight (413.26 g), primary curd volume (287.25 cc), number of secondary curds per plant (11.98), weight of secondary curds per plant (194.60 g), total yield per plant (607.87 g), total yield per plot (14.59 kg), and total yield per hectare (24.01 t/ha), which was 21.08% higher than the untreated control (19.83 t/ha). Furthermore, the maximum crude protein content (2.34%) and vitamin C content (79.36 mg/100 g) were recorded under T₆, whereas total soluble solids peaked under GA₃ @ 70 ppm at 30 DAT (T₅, 10.82 °Brix). Economic evaluation clearly demonstrated that GA₃ @ 70 ppm applied at 45 DAT (T6) generated the highest net return (₹ 2,25,078.65/ha) and benefit–cost ratio (1.67). Overall, foliar spray of GA₃ @ 70 ppm at 45 DAT represents the most viable agronomic recommendation for optimising yield, curd quality, and farm profitability in sprouting broccoli under semi-arid conditions.