Abstract
There is a dearth of information on the effect of macadamia husk compost (MHC) on the productivity of short-season, shallow-rooted annual crops. We assessed the response of yield and nutrient uptake of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. Chinensis) to MHC application. The treatments (zero control, inorganic fertilizer (100:60:60 kg NPK ha−1), and 15 and 30 t ha−1 MHC) were arranged in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Number of leaves, leaf area index, leaf biomass, and leaf nutrient concentration (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Mn, and B) were determined at 28, 46, and 74 days after transplanting (DAT), and root length and root biomass were determined at 74 DAT. Inorganic fertilizer and MHC increased root biomass and root length with greater increases recorded at the higher MHC rates. Number of leaves, leaf area index, leaf biomass, and nutrient concentration were greater with application of inorganic fertilizer (28 DAT) and 30 t ha−1 (74 DAT) suggesting that the effect of organic soil amendments is more pronounced over the long run compared with inorganic fertilizers. The concentration of macronutrients in the leaf increased with application of MHC and inorganic fertilizer. Clearly, MHC may be beneficial in improving the leaf yield and nutrient uptake of Chinese cabbage in a loamy sand soil, but the effect varies with time of harvesting.
Highlights
The highest number of leaves was recorded in plots amended with IF during the first harvest while on the last harvest, the highest number of leaves was recorded in plots amended with 30 t ha−1 of macadamia husk compost (Figure 1a)
Averaged across the three harvests, application of inorganic fertilizer and macadamia husk compost (MHC) resulted in a higher number of leaves compared to control in both seasons (Figure 1a,b)
The study showed that application of macadamia husk compost at the rate of 15 and 30 t ha−1 and NPK fertilizer improved root biomass and root length, and increased the number of leaves, leaf biomass, leaf area index, and the concentration of macronutrients in the leaves of Chinese cabbage with a greater effect observed in plots that were amended with 30 t ha−1 MHC
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Vegetables are important components in diets of rural families across the world as they provide vitamins and minerals. Chinensis) is one of the most popular vegetables in South Africa [1] and one of the most widely cultivated leafy vegetables in peri-urban smallholder farms in the northern part of South Africa [2]. Chinese cabbage originated in China, where it has been cultivated since the fifth century and is the most widely grown vegetable in China [1]. It has since spread to other parts of the world, including Africa, and Taiwan and Korea are other major producing countries [1]
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