Saleha Farjana
Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh
M. Ashraful Islam
Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh
Tamanna Haque
Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh
Cabbage; Fertilizer; Mulch; Production; Vermicompost
Horticulture farm, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh
Crop-Soil-Water Management
Fertilizer and manures, Cabbage
The experiment was carried out at Horticulture farm, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh during October, 2016 to February, 2017 to study the effects of organic and inorganic fertilizer, and mulching on growth and yield of cabbage. Cabbage (Atlas-70: hybrid F1, Sakata seed corporation, Japan) seed was used for the experiment. The experimental area was well drained sandy loam soil belonged to the Agro Ecological Zone-9 (AEZ-9) of Old Brahamaputra Flood Plain. The land had good irrigation facilities. Two factors experiment was laid out following Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The factors were consisted of four different types of fertilizers viz. F0 (control, no fertilizer), F1 (vermicompost @15 t ha-1), F2 (inorganic fertilizer; Urea @330 kg ha-1, Triple Super Phosphate (TSP) @ 200 kg ha-1, Muriate of Potash (MoP) @ 250 kg ha-1) and F3 (2/3rd Vermicompost +1/3rd Mineral fertilizer) and, four different types of mulches viz. M0 (control, no mulch), M1 (water hyacinth), M2 (rice straw), M3 (black polythene). Here, 15 µM of black high density polyethylene (HDPE) film was used and the thickness of natural mulch (water hyacinth and rice straw) was about 6-10 cm. Inorganic fertilizer (F2) was applied according the fertilizer recommendation guide where soil status and region of the experiment was considered (FRG, 2012). N (%) of the vermicompost was 1%. Although, nutrient of vermicompost composition varies to determine the quality of vermicompost in Bangladesh (N: 0.5%–4%, P: 0.5%–3%, K: 0.5%–3%, and S: 0.1%–0.5%, personal contact with BARC, Bangladesh). In the experimental plot (2m × 1.8 m), 25 days old seedlings were transplanted on 13 November 2016, with spacing 50 cm × 45 cm. Seedlings were raised in the horticulture farm, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh under special care in seedbed and the size of this bed was 3m×1m. Opened land was sun exposed for one week then harrowed, ploughed and cross-ploughed and treated with fungicide cupravit @ 2 ml/L after getting good tilth. All the fertilizers except urea (in two splits at 15 days interval) were applied at the time of final land preparation. Over-head irrigation was provided with a watering can twice every day at early morning and evening for the establishment of the seedlings up to one week. Further irrigation was done as and when needed. Flood irrigation was given before using mulch. Mulching material was given 15 days after transplanting (DAT) of seedlings. Gap filling was done after 3 days of transplanting and 7 days after first gap filling from border side transplanted plant. Weeding was done to keep the plots free from weeds, easy aeration of soil and breaking the crust of the soil followed by mulching. Harvesting was done two times according to maturity index (head compactness and firmness to the touch, arrangement of the wrapper leaves) and it was on 5 to 12 February 2017. To collect data, five plants were selected randomly from each unit plot. Average value of five plants in one plot considered as one replication. Data were collected on plant height (cm), number of leaves per plant, length of root (cm), length of stem (cm), number of roots per plant, fresh weight of root (g), thickness of head (cm) and diameter of head (cm), gross yield (weight of cabbage head including loose leaves and roots) and marketable yield (only head) per plot. Plant height and the number of leaves were recorded from the five selected plants at random from the inner rows of each plot at 30, 45 and 60 days after transplanting (DAT). The height was measured from the ground level to the tip of the growing point by placing a meter scale. Thickness and diameter of head was measured from five plants with a scale as the vertical and horizontal distance from one side to another side of the head when it was harvested and then value was recorded and expressed in centimeter (cm). Gross yield (weight of loose leaves + weight of head + weight of stem) and marketable yield (only head) of cabbage per plot was measured and expressed in kg and converted into gross yield and marketable yield per hectare which was expressed in ton (t). Fresh weight of cabbage head (100 g) was taken from each treatment with three replications. Dry weight of cabbage head were recorded after drying at 65 °C until a constant mass was reached. Total dry matter (DM) was calculated from the total sum of dry weight of cabbage head.
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND POSTHARVEST RESEARCH; 2019, VOL. 2(2), 95-104
Journal