Study on the mathematical model of the effects of NPK on winter cauliflower

In order to study the effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) on the yield, the appearance eligibility ratio and the contents of total glucosinolates and glucoraphanin of cauliflower, the 311-A optimization regression design was used to conduct field experiments of N, P, K fertilizer treatments using winter cauliflower variety ‘‘HB16’’. The models of the balanced application for N, P and K fertilizers were set up. According to the different production targets, the different optimal combinations of applying NPK fertilizers could be carried out. The results showed that the optimal combination of applying fertilizer was 372.83 kg/hm2 N, 89.65 kg/hm2 P2O5 and 201.41 kg/hm2 K2O, the highest yield was 19089.25 kg/hm2. When the optimal combination of applying fertilizers was 434.20 kg/hm2 N, 90.11 kg/hm2 P2O5, 213.92 kg/hm2 K2O, the eligibility products ratio could reach the highest at 84.95%. It was found that there were significant effects on the contents of total glucosinolates and glucoraphanin by applying N fertilizer, but not by P and K fertilizers.WhenN fertilizer application reached 408.78 kg/hm2 and 394.62 kg/hm2, total glucosinolates and glucoraphanin content would get to maximum, respectively. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.