Blended NPS and Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates on Yield and Quality of Head Cabbage (Brassica oleracea Var. Capitata L.) at Haramaya, Ethiopia

Abstract Head cabbage (Brassica oleracea Var. Capitata L.) is one of the most important vegetable crops in Ethiopia. However, the yield of the crop is low as compared to its potential yield due to low rates application of fertilizers. The use of optimum fertilizer are one of the cultural practices that help to increase the productivity of the crop.Therefore, a field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of blended NPS and nitrogen fertilizer rates on the yield and quality of head cabbage at Haramaya University during the 2022 cropping season. The treatment consisted of a factorial combination of four rates of blended NPS fertilizer (0, 50 100, and 150 kg ha⁻ ¹) and five rates of nitrogen fertilizer (0.23, 46,69, and 92 kg ha⁻ ¹) laid down in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The analysis of variance revealed that the application of NPS and N fertilizer significantly influenced yield component, and quality traits of cabbage plants. Plots received the highest rate of 150 kg ha⁻ ¹ NPS and 92 kg ha⁻ ¹ N showed maximum 2.93 kg plant⁻ ¹ economioc head weight, 62.87 t ha⁻ ¹marketable head yield and 8.63% head dry matter. Therefore, a combined application of 150 kg NPS and 92 kg N ha⁻ ¹ could be considered for head cabbage production at Haramaya area and areas with similar agro ecological and soil conditions.