Abstract
The field trial was conducted during 2017 and 2018 main cropping season at the Bore Agricultural Research Centre which is located in Gudji Zones, of Southern Ethiopia to determine the effect of different application rates of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on growth, yield and yield components of head cabbage and to identify their economically appropriate rates that maximize yield of head cabbage. The experiment was carried out to study cabbage variety Olsen to added N and P nutrients in respect to growth, yield and yield related parameters of the crop. The longest head initiation (90 days) and longest (140) days to maturity was attained in 294 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> Nitrogen and 138 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> phosphorus treatment, while shortest head initiation (64.33 days) was obtained in control treatment. The maximum plant height (26.4 cm) was recorded for the treatment T3P4 (235 +138 kag ha<sup>-1</sup>), while the lowest (16.9 cm) plant height was recorded from the T1P1 (control) treatment. Nutrient levels markedly influenced the diameter, height, head mass and yield of head cabbage. The maximum average head diameter (25.44 cm) and average height (27.33 cm) was recorded in treatment receiving 235 kg N and 82 kg P ha<sup>-1</sup>. Combined application of 235 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> with the 82 kg P ha<sup>-1</sup> produced the highest (2356.67 g) untrimmed head weight of cabbage followed by second maximum (2133.33 g) untrimmed head weight with the rate of 235 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> with the 110 kg P ha<sup>-1</sup> while the least (1120.67 g) untrimmed head weight was recorded for the control treatment. Combined application of 235 kg nitrogen and 82 kg phosphorus ha<sup>-1</sup> (N3P2) recorded maximum (69.00 t) head yield without wrapper ha<sup>-1</sup> and the lowest (27.66 t ha<sup>-1</sup>) was recorded by control treatment. The marginal rate of returns, which determines the acceptability of any treatments shows that treatments that received 235 kg N ha<sup>-1</sup> in combination with 82 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> of P yielded 43498% marginal revenue. Therefore, this combined nutrient application rates can be recommended in the research area and similar agro-ecologies since it is the most feasible rates for the producers because of its low cost of production and higher benefits.
Highlights
Head cabbage is scientifically known as Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Accumulation of different organic materials during previous growing seasons might have resulted in high pre-plant organic carbon content (3.02%), which might have contributed to the high level of total N (0.30%), low level of available phosphorus (4.52 ppm), high level of exchangeable potassium (262.25 mg/kg), and medium level of CEC (22.11 Meq/100g) in the soil
The present study was initiated to assess the effects of different levels of nitrogen and phosphorus on yield and yield components of head cabbage
Summary
Head cabbage is scientifically known as Brassica oleracea var. capitata. It belongs to the Cruciferae family which includes kale (Brassica oleracea var acephala), Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis (Lour Rapr.) and Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera DC). Head cabbage is scientifically known as Brassica oleracea var. It was introduced initially to China before 2000 years ago, where the heading (Brassica oleoracea L) types were developed [38]. Cabbage thrives best during cool, moist seasons [11, 29, 35, 36]. Even though it requires 500 mm of water for its growing period [2], good drainage is important; as too much water tends to split heads when they are mature [31, 36]. Its growth season is between 80 to 100 days [10]
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