Effect of Organic Source of Nutrients on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties, Growth and Yield of Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

Abstract

Organic source of nutrient has effect on soil physico-chemical properties, growth and yield of cabbage. To determine the effect of organic source of nutrients on soil physio-chemical properties, growth and yield of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), field experiment was conducted on acidic sandy loam soil of Horticulture farm at Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), Rampur, Chitwan, from 5th December 2020 to 26th March 2021.The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Special NPK granules, Carbon based, Vermicompost, Obifert, Neem seed cake, Poultry manure, Farm Yard Manure (FYM), Mustard oil seed cake and Goat manure were used as treatments along with control. Application of poultry manure significantly increased plant height (22.33 cm) with least number of unfolded leaves (7.33), highest head diameter (106.40 cm) and head yield (45.51 t/ha) of cabbage. Bulk density was not statistically significantly influenced by the application of organic source of nutrients. Significantly higher available Phosphorous content in soil was found with the application of mustard oil seed cake (118.58 kg/ha) and available Potassium content was higher with the application of Goat manure (206.69 kg/ha). Nitrogen content of cabbage head (3.25%) and cabbage root (1.43%) was significantly higher with the application of Poultry manure. Mustard oil seed cake obtained highest Nitrogen harvest index (94.46%) and Nitrogen recovery percentage (66.47%). The yield efficiency (228.13kg head/kg N) was highest with the application of poultry manure. To attain highest yield of cabbage with higher Nutrient use efficiency and enhanced physico-chemical properties of soil, application of Poultry manure might be optimum for acidic sandy loam soil of Chitwan.