EFFECT OF PLANTING DATE AND SPACING ON YIELD AND QUALITY OF CABBAGE (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.)

Abstract

Two field trials were carried out during two consecutive winter seasons of 2009/10 and 2010/2011 at Baramon Experimental Farm, Dakahlia Governorate to investigate the effect of three planting dates (1st Nov., 15th Nov. and 1st Dec.) and three plant spacing (50, 60 and 70 cm) on cabbage cv. Brunswick. The trials were laid out in a split-plot design with three replicates. Results indicated that the earliest planting date (1st of November) significantly promoted vegetative growth characters, i.e. plant weight, number and weight of outer leaves. Moreover, the earliest planting date increased average head weight, total and marketable yield. Head quality attributes, i.e. head equatorial and polar diameters, head volume, head density and dry matter content were increased when planting at the earliest planting date, compared to the later planting dates. The wider plant spacing (70 cm within row) exhibited the largest values of plant weight, number and weight of outer leaves. The wider plant spacing produced heads with larger dimensions, volume and density. Otherwise, the closer plant spacing (50 cm within row) produced larger total and marketable yield in relation to that yield produced by wider spacing. The interaction effects among the experimental factors were significant at both seasons of this investigation for plant weight, total yield and dry matter content, whereas no significant interaction was found for other studied characters.