EFFECTS OF SPACING AND FERTILIZER APPLICATION ON THE GROWTH, YIELD AND NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF CABBAGE (Brassica oleracea L.) IN AKURE, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA.

Abstract

Field experiment to investigate the effects of spacing and fertilizer application on the growth, yield and nutritional quality of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L) was conducted at the experimental station of the Department of Crop, Soil and Pest Management located at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology, Akure in 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons, respectively. The field experiment was a 4 x 3 factorial scheme laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) involving three replicates per treatment. The treatments consisted of (1) 60 cm x 40 cm + Sunshine manure (900 g/plot = 75 g/plant); (2) 60 cm x 40 cm + Fertiplus (900 g/plot = 75 g/plant); (3) 60 cm x 40 cm + NPK (75 g/plot = 6.25 g/plant); (4) 60 cm x 40 cm + Control; (5) 60 cm x 45 cm + Sunshine manure (900 g/plot = 75 g/plant); (6) 60 cm x 45 cm + Fertiplus (900 g/plot = 75 g/plant); (7) 60 cm x 45 cm + NPK (75 g/plot = 6.25 g/plant); (8) 60 cm x 45 cm + Control; (9) 60 cm x 50 cm + Sunshine manure ( 900 g/plot = 75 g/plant); (10) 60 cm x 50 cm + Fertiplus (900 g/plot = 75 g/plant); (11) 60 cm x 50 cm + NPK (75 g/plot = 6.25 g/plant); and (12) 60 cm x 50 cm + Control. Growth parameters assessed include: plant height, stem girth, and number of leaves/plant; yield parameters measured include: head length, head diameter and head weight. Chemical composition of the cabbage was also determined. Results from the study showed that application of fertilizer (organic and inorganic fertilizer) enhanced the growth and yield parameters of cabbage. The result also showed that application of NPK at a spacing of 60 cm x 50 cm gave higher cabbage head yield compared with the other treatments; while fertiplus applied with a spacing of 60 cm x 45 cm gave better nutritional quality than others.