Influence of Organic Manure and Inorganic Fertilizer on the Growth, Yield and Phytochemical Constituents of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea)

Abstract

Organic farming is gaining attention and increasing globally because of its eco-friendly, safety and its health benefits to humans. A field experiment was conducted at Federal College of Forestry Jos, to determine the influence of organic manure and inorganic fertilizer on the growth, yield and phytochemical constituents of cabbage. Randomized Complete Block Design was used as experimental design involving five treatments with T0 as control (No application of manure), T1 (N.P.K fertilizer), T2 (Poultry droppings), T3 (Cow droppings) and T4 (Goat droppings). Data was taken on plant height, number of leaves, head diameter and head weight of cabbage. Qualitative phytochemical analysis on saponins, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, anthocyanins, phenols, amino acids, steroids and terpenoids were carried out and quantitative analysis was done for phytochemicals present. The result obtained showed a significant difference for the plant height, leaf count, head diameter and head weight at p≤0.05. Flavonoids, alkaloids, amino acids, terpenoids, tannins and phenols were present in the qualitative analysis and at different rates. Cabbage cultivation with poultry droppings (T2) was observed to stand out from the other treatments for the yield parameters and the phytochemical analysis. Result of the quantitative phytochemicals revealed that more phenolics, alkaloids and flavonoids were present in cabbage grown with organic manure than in inorganic fertilizer.