FERTIGATION TRIAL ON CABBAGE Abstract:

Fertigation trial on cabbage was conducted in Chikkaballapur district during Rabi 2011. Two acre drip irrigated area was selected, farmer practice was followed in one acre (control Plot) and in other acre entire recommended nutrients were supplied by water soluble fertilisers (Treated Plot). All growth and yield parameters recorded were superior in treated plot compared to control. Around 30% yield increase and 26% head test weight increase were observed in treated plot compared to control. Apart from improvement in yield, quality also improved in treated plot with respect to size, colour and uniformity of the cabbage heads.

Introduction:
We all aware that, fertigation remarkably increases the yield and quality of the crops by improving the use efficiency of the applied nutrients. Apart from this, fertigation practice protects soil from loosing its fertility due to accumulation of salts by excess usage of irrigation water and bulk fertilisers. In India also, there is a substantial improvement in drip area especially in vegetables and fruit segments, but concern is that, still the farmers are not adopting fertigation system. Main reasons are lack of knowledge on fertigation and many wrong myths in their minds. To demonstrate the benefits of fertigation to drip farmers, we had initiated Fertigation trial on Cabbage in N.Hosahalli, Sidlaghatta Taluk, Chikkaballapur district, Karnataka during Rabi 2011. Two acre drip plot was selected for conducting this trial. One acre was supplied with bulk fertilisers as per farmer practice and other one acre was supplied with water soluble fertilisers as per the schedule prepared by us. In between these plots there was a valve to regulate the supply of water soluble fertilisers.

Farmer Detail:
Mr.H.C.Nagarajappa N.Hosahalli Sidlaghatta Taluk Chikkaballapur District Karnataka +919845173310

Seedlings of Cabbage were planted in main field on 13th September 2011. The variety used was Unnathi. The number of seedling used per acre was 22000 with the spacing of 1 X 1.5 ft. Bulk fertilisers used in control plots are given below along with their prices, Grade DAP 10.26.26 15ALL UREA 19ALL CaNo3 Price/Bag 960 840 700 300 1500 1100 No.of Bags 4 4 4 4 1 1 Total Amount 3840 3360 2800 1200 1500 1100 13800

Periodic observations were noted on vegetative and yield attributes.

Results and Discussion:

The fertigated plants were very dark green in colour, uniform in size and robust in their growth compared to control plants. But not much difference with respect to disease incidence.

Test Weight of Cabbage Heads (kgs):

Head Weight P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10 Total Average Wt Treated 1.2 1.8 1.5 1.6 1.1 1.4 1.3 1.9 1 1.4 14.2 1.42 Control 1.6 1.3 1.2 1.3 0.9 0.8 1.1 1 1.1 1 11.3 1.13

The Cabbage heads test weight was significantly higher, 26% more in fertigated plot compared control plot. This clearly indicates that, there was a better head filling due to improved used efficiency of nutrients in case of fertigated plot.

Cabbage harvests (kgs):

Date 26.11.2011 27.11.2011 28.11.2011 29.11.2011 30.11.2011 01.12.2011 02.12.2011 03.12.2011 04.12.2011 05.12.2011 06.12.2011 Total Treated 2700 3600 2340 2340 2880 1800 1620 1440 900 13320 Control 1260 360 1800

540 10260

The treated plot has shown significant improvement in the yield ie-30% increase over control plot. The yield got in both the plots is less than the average yield of 20 MTs/acre. The drop in yield is due to continuous rains and cloudy weather during the month of October 2011.

Cost Benefit Ratio:

PARTICULARS VARIETY NO. OF PLANTS/ACRE PRICE OF SEEDLING @ RS.0.30/SEEDLING COST OF CULTIVATION 1. LAND PREPERATION 2. SEEDLINGS 3. FERTILISRS 4. PESTICIDES 5. LABOURS TOTAL YIELD AND INCOME 1. TOTAL YIELD 2. PRICE REALISED @ RS 5.5/KG TOTAL INCOME (RS) C: B RATIO INCREMENTAL COST ON TRIAL INCREMENTAL INCOME ON TRIAL C: B RATIO TREATED UNNATHI 22000 6600 2000 6600 15630 8000 8000 40230 CONTROL UNNATHI 22000 6600 2000 6600 13800 8000 10000 40400

13320 73260 33030

10260 56430 16030

1830 17000 1:9.3

For extra investment of Rs, 1830/acre farmer can earn extra income of Rs.17000/- which is 1: 9.3 C:B ratio.

Some of the photos of the Trial:

rial plot (left side control plot and right side treated plot)

Control Plot

Trial Plot

Fertigation schedule used for Cabbage trial

NPK Recommendation N 60 Period (Days from Transplanting) Basal P 40 No. of No. of Days Application 1 K 50 Quantity (kg) 10 10 8 8 16 32 14 21 35 70 20 15 5 15 55 15 15 30 25 10 35 35 7 42 10 2 12 286

Sr.No. 1

Growth Stages Transplanting Seedling (up to 5true leaves) Peak Vegetative Growth (up to 9-12 true leaves) Precupping (13 to 19 true leaves) Cupping (20 to 26 true leaves) Early Head Formation Head Fill

Grades G.Sulphur Total 19.19.19 12.61.0 Urea Total 19.19.19 12.61.0 Urea Total 12.61.0 13.0.45 CaNO3 Urea Total 0.52.34 Urea Total 13.0.45 CaNO3 Total 0.0.50 Urea Total 0.0.50 19.19.19 Total Gr.Total

kg/ac/day

3 to 10

11 to 25

15

2 2 4 8 2 3 5 10 4 3 1 3 11 3 3 6 5 2 7 5 1 6 5 1 6

26 to 35

10

36 to 45

10

46 to 55

10

56 to 70

15

Maturity

71 to 90

20

Application is once in two days

Foliar Suppliments
Days after Transplanting Grade 24.24.0 (Superia) 24.24.0 (Superia) Folibor 13.0.45 Folibor 0.0.50 Dose gm/Lit of water 5 5 1 5 1 5 Quantity/Ac (gm)

20 40 60 75

500 1000 150 1000 200 1000

Rajashekhar G.Badiger Deputy Manager Crop Management and Technical Services