Response of integrated nutrient management on growth and yield of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

Abstract

The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with three replications and ten treatments. The treatments consisted of T1: 100% RDF of NPK, T2: Azotobacter + 75% NPK, T3: PSB + 75% NPK, T4: Azotobacter + PSB + 75% NPK, T5: Azotobacter + 100% NPK, T6: PSB + 100% NPK, T7: Azotobacter + PSB + 100% NPK, T8: Azotobacter + 50% NPK, T9: PSB + 50% NPK, T10: Azotobacter + PSB + 50% NPK. Application of different levels of fertilizers in combination and bio-fertilizers significantly increased the growth, yield and quality of cabbage. The maximum plant height (25.70 cm), plant spread (54.12 cm), number of non-wrapper leaves (12.00), stalk length (6.15cm), days to head formation (35.27), head diameter (13.87 cm), head height (14.98 cm), average head weight (1.20 kg), head yield plot-1 (24.00 kg), head yield hectare-1 (45.00t) were recorded with the combined application of Azotobacter + PSB + 100% NPK. Whereas net returns of 1, 63,304 along with benefit: cost ratio (2.64:1) was recorded with the conjoint application of 100 per cent RDF + bio-fertilizers. These results suggested that the optimum production of cabbage can be obtained with integrated application of Azotobacter + PSB + 100% NPK.