Response of Inorganic, Integrated and Organic Sources of Nutrients on Growth and Yield of Cabbage

Abstract

Organic manures and farm wastes are beneficial in recycling as nutrients in the form of compost into soil and can serve as an alternative to inorganic fertilizers (IFs). A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of inorganic integrated and organic nutrient sources on cabbage production. The soil of the experimental plot was clay loam having 7.47 pH, 0.21 EC (dSm-1) and 0.62 % organic carbon, 262 kg, 14.60 kg and 142 kg ha-1 available N, P and K, respectively. Seven treatments were compared, including various combinations of inorganic fertilizers and organic manures.  Results indicated that combining 50% inorganic fertilizers with 50% farmyard manure (FYM) yielded the highest cabbage production. The study highlights the potential for integrated nutrient management to enhance crop yield and soil health. Among different treatments, T2 (integration of 50% NPK through inorganic fertilizers and 50% N through organic manures) recorded significantly maximum number of wrapped leaves during all three years, but were found at par with T1. T2 recorded significantly highest head yield per plot and finally yield (470.7, 430.2 and 371.4 qha-1) in all three consecutive years respectively. Although, among 100% organic sources, T6 (T3+biofertilizers; PSB & azotobactor) recorded significantly highest head yield (371.5, 310.3 and 311.3q ha-1) in all three consecutive years respectively over rest of the organic sources. T6observed maximum soil organic carbon (0.66%), available P (43.67 kgha-1), K (180.04 kgha-1) and S 19.04 kgha-1as compared to 100 % inorganic fertilizer sources, integrated sources and other organic sources. On the basis of results of this three years experiment it is concluded that T2-50 % NPK through IF + 50 % N through FYM, can be adopted for most economic crop production, but T6(50% N as FYM+50% N as VC+ PSB and azotobactor) considered best for long term sustainable cabbage production.