Optimizing Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) Production through Integrated Nutrient Management: Enhancing Yield, Quality, and Sustainability

This study explores the synergistic effects of integrated nutrient management (INM) on the growth, yield, and quality attributes of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata). The present study was conducted during the Rabi season of 2022-23 at Lovely Professional University at a vegetable research farm in Punjab, India. The experiment was laid out in a completely randomized block design with ten treatments replicated three times. Various combinations of organic and inorganic fertilizers, including vermicompost and neem cake were evaluated alongside the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF). Results indicated significant enhancements in most horticultural traits of cabbage across different treatments. Notably, the combination of RDF with vermicompost and neem cake (75% RDF: 5 t/ha: 2 t/ha) exhibited the most promising results, including increased head weight (125%), head formation percentage (22.17%), enhanced head yield (65.33%), improved compactness (98.60%), elevated ascorbic acid content (24.48%), and higher dry matter content (27.56%) than of control. These findings underscore the efficacy of integrated nutrient management strategies in optimizing cabbage production, emphasizing their potential for sustainable and high-quality vegetable cultivation.