A collaboration between

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

Funding provided by:

Guidelines and Webpage Design:

Daniel Geisseler, Ph.D.; UCCE Specialist in Nutrient Management; Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis

Reviewers:

Timothy K. Hartz, Ph.D.; Extension Specialist/Agronomist; Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis

Richard Smith; Farm Advisor; University of California Cooperative Extension Monterey County

William R. Horwath, Ph.D.; Professor of Soil Biogeochemistry and James G. Boswell Endowed Chair in Soil Science; Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California, Davis

Support:

Asif Maan, Ph.D.; Branch Chief Feed, Fertilizer, and Livestock Drugs Regulatory Services, California Department of Food and Agriculture

Amrith Gunasekara, Ph.D.; Science Advisor to the Secretary; California Department of Food and Agriculture

Erika Lewis; Fertilizer Reserach and Education Program, California Department of Food and Agriculture

Last Update: September, 2015

Additional Information:

Broccoli Nitrogen Uptake and Partitioning

Broccoli Production in California

California Fertilization Guidelines

Broccoli

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Preplant

Sowing
Transplanting

Rosette
Stage

Head
Development

Harvest

Plant tissue can be analyzed for total nitrogen or nitrate-N concentration. The total N concentration (Table 1) of whole leaves indicates the longer-term N availability, while the petiole nitrate-N concentration (Table 2) reflects more the current conditions ^[N17]. Total N concentration is considered a better measure to monitor crop N status; however, this technique has not been widely used in the California vegetable industry ^[N17]. For more information, contact your local farm advisor.

Table 1: Optimum whole-leaf nutrient concentrations in the most recently matured leaves.
Leaf NPK
concentration
Sources: 1) ^[N5]; 2) ^[N22].

Petiole nitrate-N levels have been found to be insensitive indicators of the current soil N availability, especially when excess N is available ^{[N14, N16, N17, N20, N31]}. Fertilizer N decisions should therefore not be based solely on petiole nitrate-N tests ^[N31].

Readings of nitrate concentrations in the petiole fresh sap made with the handheld Cardy meter are correlated with the dry petiole nitrate concentration but are not very sensitive indicators of the crops N status either ^{[N23,
N24]}. However, petiole nitrate-N may be used as a diagnostic test to confirm N deficiency.

Table 2: Approximate sufficiency nitrate-N range for in broccoli petioles.
Leaf NPK
concentration
Sources: 1) ^{[N7, N13, N17]}; 2) ^{[N23, N17]}.

Preplant N

Starter N

In-Season N

In-Season Nitrogen

Splitting N applications has not always been found to be superior to applying all N at planting ^{[N10, N21, N24]}. However, high pre-plant or starter application rates considerably increase the risk of nitrate leaching below the root zone. For this reason, split applications of N are highly recommended.

Application Rate

CropManage

Mode of Application

Subsurface band

Everaarts and de Willigen ^[N10] reported that placement of fertilizer in a band 2 inches to the side of the row and 2 inches below the soil surface significantly increased the yield at five out of eight sites compared to a broadcast application, while there was no difference at the other sites.

Fertigation

In drip-irrigated fields, N can be applied through the drip system ^[N25].

Surface band

A surface band application of an ammonium nitrate solution between rosette stage and harvest serves as contact herbicide against broadleaf weeds and as a N source ^{[N25, N40]}. The waxy cuticle that broccoli and other cole crops develop once they have at least three true leaves prevents damage to the crop, unless the plants are very wet ^[N40]. However, because weeds lack this cuticle, they will be burned by the fertilizer with the effect being most pronounced on warm days. A shielded spray should be used to avoid spraying the growing point or emerging new leaves of the broccoli plant ^[N40].

Agamalian ^[N1] found that topical applications of 50 to 60 gallons per acre of undiluted 20% ammonium nitrate were effective in killing weeds. Ammonium thiosulfate was also effective in killing weeds, while the results with urea/sulfuric acid solutions were variable ^[N1]. The amount of N in these applications is equivalent to 105-125 lbs/acre. Therefore, such high topical applications should only be used when the amount of N applied is needed by the plants at the time of application. The N applied must be integrated into the N fertilization program.

Foliar N

Little information on the effect of foliar N application is available. In a trial with furrow irrigated broccoli, Yildirim and coworkers ^[N43] found that the application of a 0.8% urea solution in addition to a 245 lbs N/acre pre-plant application increased broccoli yield by about 10%. No information about leaching losses of the pre-plant N was given. Foliar N was applied four times in 10-day intervals, starting two weeks after transplanting.

References:

Nitrogen

Agamalian, H.S., 1988. Weed control in crucifer crops with nitrogen fertilizers. California Agriculture 42(6), 16-17.
Bakker, C.J., Swanton, C.J. and McKeown, A.W., 2009. Broccoli growth in response to increasing rates of pre-plant nitrogen. I Yield and quality. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 89, 527-537.
Bélec, C., Villeneuve, S., Coulombe, J., Tremblay, N., 2001. Impact of nitrogen fertilization on yield, hollow stem incidence and sap nitrate concentration in broccoli. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 81, 765–772.
Bowen, P.A., Zebarth, B.J., Toivonen, P.M.A., 1999. Dynamics of nitrogen and dry-matter partitioning and accumulation in broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) in relation to extractable soil inorganic nitrogen. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 79, 277–286.
California Plant Health Association, 2002. Western Fertilizer Handbook 9^th edition. Interstate Publishers, Inc.
Castellanos, J.Z., Villalobos, S., Delgado, J.A., Muñoz-Ramos, J., Sosa, A., Vargas, P., Lazcano, I., Alvarez-Sanchez, E., Enriquez, S.A., 2001. Use of best management practices to increase nitrogen use efficiency and protect environmental quality in a broccoli-corn rotation of central Mexico, Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 32, 1265-1292.
Doerge, T.A., Roth, R.L., Gardner, B.R., 1991. Nitrogen fertilizer management in Arizona. College of Agriculture, the University of Arizona.
Elwan, M.W.M., Abd El-Hamed K.E., 2011. Influence of nitrogen form, growing season and sulfur fertilization on yield and the content of nitrate and vitamin C of broccoli. Scientia Horticulturae 127, 181–187.
Everaarts, A.P., 1994. Nitrogen fertilization and head rot in broccoli. Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science 42, 195-201.
Everaarts, A.P., de Willigen P., 1999a. The effect of nitrogen and the method of application on yield and quality of broccoli. Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science 47, 123-133.
Everaarts, A.P., de Willigen P., 1999b. The effect of the rate and method of nitrogen application on nitrogen uptake and utilization by broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italic). Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science 47, 201-214.
Feller, C., Fink, M., 2005. Growth and yield of broccoli as affected by the nitrogen content of transplants and the timing of nitrogen fertilization. HortScience 40, 1320-1323.
Gardner, B.R., Roth, R.L., 1989. Midrib nitrate concentration as a means for determining nitrogen needs of broccoli. Journal of Plant Nutrition 12, 111-125.
Hartz, T., 1996. Nitrogen management through intensive on-farm monitoring. FREP Final Report.
Hartz, T., 1998. Evaluation of pre-sidedress soil nitrate testing to determine N requirements of cool season vegetables. FREP Final Report.
Hartz, T.K., 2006. Vegetable production best management practices to minimize nutrient loss. HortTechnology 16, 398-403.
Hartz, T.K., 2007. Efficient nitrogen management for cool-season vegetables.
Hartz, T., Smith, R., 2012. In-season soil nitrate testing explained. UCCE Monterey County Crop Notes July/August 2012, 6-7.
Hartz, T.K., Smith, R.F., Schulbach, K.F., LeStrange, M., 1994. On-farm nitrogen tests improve fertilizer efficiency, protect groundwater. California Agriculture 48(4), 29-32.
Hartz, T.K., Bendixen, W.E., Wierdsma, L., 2000. The value of presidedress soil nitrate testing as a nitrogen management tool in irrigated vegetable production. HortScience 35, 651–656.
Hemphill, D., Hart, J., 1992. Effect of rate, timing of application, and placement of nitrogen fertilizer on broccoli yield and nitrogen uptake.
Hochmuth, G., Maynard, D., Vavrina, C., Hanlon, E., Simonne, E., 2012. Plant tissue analysis and interpretation for vegetable crops in Florida.

TOP OF PAGE

Kubota, A., Thompson, T.L., Doerge, T.A., Godin R.E., 1997. A petiole sap nitrate test for broccoli, Journal of Plant Nutrition 20, 669-682.
Le Strange, M., Mitchell, J.P., Jackson, L.E., 1998. Determination of best nitrogen management practices for broccoli production in the San Joaquin Valley. FREP Final Report.
Le Strange, M., Cahn, M.D., Koike, S.T., Smith, R.F., Daugovish, O., Fennimore, S.A., Natwick, E.T., Dara, S.K., Takele, E., Cantwell, M.I., 2010. Broccoli production in California. UC ANR Publication 7211.
Liu, L., Shelp, B.J., 1993a. Nitrogen partitioning ni greenhouse-grown broccoli in response to varying NH₄⁺:NO₃^- ratios. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 24, 45-60.
Liu, L., Shelp, B.J., 1993b. Broccoli yield and nitrogen composition in response to different management regimes. Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 24, 61-84.
Montagu, K.D., Conroy, J.P., Francis, G.S., 1998. Root and shoot response of field-grown lettuce and broccoli to a compact subsoil. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 49, 89-97.
Oregon State University, 2004. Commercial vegetable production guides. Broccoli.
Rincon L., Saez J., Perez Crespo J.A., Gomez Lopez M.D., Pellicer C., 1999. Crecimiento y absorcion de nutrientes del brocoli. Investigación Agraria. Producción y Protección Vegetales 14, 225-236.
Sanchez, C.A., 1998. Diagnostic tools for efficient N management of vegetables produced in the low desert. FREP Final Report.
Scaife, A., Turner, M., 1983. Diagnosis of mineral disorders in plants. Vol. 2. Vegetables. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London.
Shelp, B.J., 1987. Plant characteristics and nutrient composition and mobility of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italic) supplied with NH₄⁺, NO₃^- or NH₄NO₃. Journal of Experimental Botany 38, 1603-1618.
Shelp, B. J., Liu, L., 1992. Nutrient uptake by field-grown broccoli and net nutrient mobilization during inflorescence development. Plant and Soil 140, 151-155.
Smith, R., 2010. Fine tuning nitrogen management for vegetable production. UCCE Monterey County Crop Notes March/April 2010, 12-14.
Smith, R., Cahn, M., Hartz, T.K., 2012. Survey of nitrogen uptake and applied irrigation water in broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage production in the Salinas Valley. FREP Annual Report.
Thompson, T.L. Doerge, T.A., Godin, R.E., 2002. Subsurface drip irrigation and fertigation of broccoli: I. Yield, quality, and nitrogen uptake. Soil Science Society of America Journal 66, 186–192.
Thorup-Kristensen, K., 1993. Root development of nitrogen catch crops and of a succeeding crop of broccoli. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B 43, 58-63.
Tremblay, N. 1989. Effect of nitrogen sources and rates on yield and hollow stem development in broccoli. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 69, 1049-1053.
UC IPM, 2012. UC IPM Online: Year-round IPM program for cole crops. UC ANR Publications.
Vågen, I.M., Aamlid, T.S., Skjelvåg, A.O., 2007. Nitrogen fertilization to broccoli cultivars at different planting times: Yield and nitrogen use. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section B 57, 35-44.
Wallace, T., 1953. The diagnosis of mineral deficiencies in plants by visual symptoms. Chemical Publishing Co. New York, N.Y.
Yildirim, E., Guvenc, I., Turan, M., Karatas, A., 2007. Effect of foliar urea application on quality, growth, mineral uptake and yield of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L., var. italic). Plant, Soil and Environment 53, 120–128.
Zebarth, B.J., Bowen, P.A., Toivonen, P.M.A., 1995. Influence of nitrogen fertilization on broccoli yield, nitrogen accumulation and apparent fertilizer-nitrogen recovery. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 75, 717-725.

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Phosphorus

California Plant Health Association, 2002. Western Fertilizer Handbook 9^th edition. Interstate Publishers, Inc.
Castellanos, J.Z., Villalobos, S., Delgado, J.A., Muñoz-Ramos, J., Sosa, A., Vargas, P., Lazcano, I., Alvarez-Sanchez, E., Enriquez, S.A., 2001. Use of best management practices to increase nitrogen use efficiency and protect environmental quality in a broccoli-corn rotation of central Mexico, Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 32, 1265-1292.
Costigan, P.A., 1986. The effects of soil temperature on the response of lettuce seedlings to starter fertilizer. Plant and Soil 93,183-193.
Hartz, T.K., 2007. Efficient nitrogen management for cool-season vegetables.
Hochmuth, G., Maynard, D., Vavrina, C., Hanlon, E., Simonne, E., 2012. Plant tissue analysis and interpretation for vegetable crops in Florida.
Johnstone, P.R., Hartz, T.K., Cahn, M.D., Johnstone, M.R., 2005. Lettuce response to phosphorus fertilization in high phosphorus soils. HortScience 40, 1499-1503.
Le Strange, M., Cahn, M.D., Koike, S.T., Smith, R.F., Daugovish, O., Fennimore, S.A., Natwick, E.T., Dara, S.K., Takele, E., Cantwell, M.I., 2010. Broccoli production in California. UC ANR Publication 7211.
Montagu, K.D., Conroy, J.P., Francis, G.S., 1998. Root and shoot response of field-grown lettuce and broccoli to a compact subsoil. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 49, 89-97.
Oregon State University, 2004. Commercial vegetable production guides. Broccoli.
Pettygrove, S., Hartz, T., Hanson, B., Jackson, L., Smith, R., Lockhart, T., Grattan, S., 2003. Nutrient management in cool-season vegetables. University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Publication 8098.
Rincon L., Saez J., Perez Crespo J.A., Gomez Lopez M.D., Pellicer C., 1999. Crecimiento y absorcion de nutrientes del brocoli. Investigación Agraria. Producción y Protección Vegetales 14, 225-236.
Scaife, A., Turner, M., 1983. Diagnosis of mineral disorders in plants. Vol. 2. Vegetables. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London.
Thorup-Kristensen, K., 1993. Root development of nitrogen catch crops and of a succeeding crop of broccoli. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B 43, 58-63.
UC IPM, 2012. UC IPM Online: Year-round IPM program for cole crops. UC ANR Publications.
Wallace, T., 1953. The diagnosis of mineral deficiencies in plants by visual symptoms. Chemical Publishing Co. New York, N.Y.
Yoldas, F., Ceylan, S., Yagmur, B. Mordogan, N., 2008. Effects of nitrogen fertilizer on yield quality and nutrient content in broccoli. Journal of Plant Nutrition 31, 1333-1343.

TOP OF PAGE

Potassium

California Plant Health Association, 2002. Western Fertilizer Handbook 9^th edition. Interstate Publishers, Inc.
Castellanos, J.Z., Villalobos, S., Delgado, J.A., Muñoz-Ramos, J., Sosa, A., Vargas, P., Lazcano, I., Alvarez-Sanchez, E., Enriquez, S.A., 2001. Use of best management practices to increase nitrogen use efficiency and protect environmental quality in a broccoli-corn rotation of central Mexico, Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 32, 1265-1292.
Hartz, T.K., 2007. Efficient nitrogen management for cool-season vegetables.
Hochmuth, G., Maynard, D., Vavrina, C., Hanlon, E., Simonne, E., 2012. Plant tissue analysis and interpretation for vegetable crops in Florida.
International Plant Nutrition Institute. Nutrient source specifics.
Le Strange, M., Cahn, M.D., Koike, S.T., Smith, R.F., Daugovish, O., Fennimore, S.A., Natwick, E.T., Dara, S.K., Takele, E., Cantwell, M.I., 2010. Broccoli production in California. UC ANR Publication 7211.
Montagu, K.D., Conroy, J.P., Francis, G.S., 1998. Root and shoot response of field-grown lettuce and broccoli to a compact subsoil. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 49, 89-97.
Oregon State University, 2004. Commercial vegetable production guides. Broccoli.
Rincon L., Saez J., Perez Crespo J.A., Gomez Lopez M.D., Pellicer C., 1999. Crecimiento y absorcion de nutrientes del brocoli. Investigación Agraria. Producción y Protección Vegetales 14, 225-236.
Scaife, A., Turner, M., 1983. Diagnosis of mineral disorders in plants. Vol. 2. Vegetables. Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, London.
Shelp, B. J., Liu, L., 1992. Nutrient uptake by field-grown broccoli and net nutrient mobilization during inflorescence development. Plant and Soil 140, 151-155.
Thorup-Kristensen, K., 1993. Root development of nitrogen catch crops and of a succeeding crop of broccoli. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica Section B 43, 58-63.
Wallace, T., 1953. The diagnosis of mineral deficiencies in plants by visual symptoms. Chemical Publishing Co. New York, N.Y.
Yoldas, F., Ceylan, S., Yagmur, B. Mordogan, N., 2008. Effects of nitrogen fertilizer on yield quality and nutrient content in broccoli. Journal of Plant Nutrition 31, 1333-1343.

TOP OF PAGE

A collaboration between

Acknowledgments

Funding provided by:

Guidelines and Webpage Design:

Reviewers:

Support:

Take a Quiz! Quiz Submit Answer Reset

Quiz

Additional Information:

Links:

California Fertilization Guidelines

Broccoli

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Nitrogen (N)

Broccoli Nitrogen Nutrition

Deficiency Symptoms

Excessive Nitrogen

Soil Test

Soil Nitrate Test

Soil Sampling

Soil Nitrate Quick Test

Interpretation of Test Results

Leaf Analysis

Leaf Analysis N

Leaf Sampling

Interpretation of Test Results

Preplant N

Preplant Nitrogen

Starter N

Starter Nitrogen