Synergistic Effects of Boron, Zinc, and Manganese Foliar Applications on Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) Growth under Telangana Agro-Climatic Conditions

The present study was conducted during the Rabi season of 2023–24 at the PG Research Block, College of Horticulture, SKLTGHU, Rajendranagar, to evaluate the effect of various micronutrients on the growth parameters of zucchini. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design with 12 treatment combinations involving foliar applications of Boron (B), Zinc (Zn), and Manganese (Mn) at different concentrations, alone and in combinations. Significant differences were observed across treatments for plant height, number of leaves per plant, plant spread (N-S and E-W), leaf area, leaf length, leaf breadth, and chlorophyll content (SPAD units). Among all treatments, the combined application of B @ 20 ppm + Zn @ 15 ppm + Mn @ 40 ppm (T10) resulted in the highest values for most growth parameters, including plant height (71.83 cm), leaf area (257.98 cm²), and chlorophyll content (44.70 SPAD units). The findings emphasize the synergistic effects of balanced micronutrient application in improving vegetative growth, suggesting that integrated foliar nutrition strategies can significantly enhance zucchini productivity under Telangana agro-climatic conditions.