Fertilization Technology and Practice of Cabbage

Fertilization Technology and Practice of Cabbage

Xiang Dehua, Zhang Yi, Li Kui, Deng Tianming

(Agricultural Technology Promotion Center of Yicheng City, Hubei Province, Yicheng 441400, Hubei, China)

Abstract: Cabbage is one of the major vegetable varieties and can be planted in both mountainous and plain areas. In order to explore a simple and easy fertilization plan, a comparison was made in Yicheng City, Hubei Province between the application of organic fertilizer combined with special fertilizer for vegetables and several fertilization plans commonly used by farmers. The results showed that the reduction of chemical fertilizer by 5 - 25% could increase the yield by about 2 - 20%, providing a reliable basis for guiding farmers to fertilize scientifically when planting cabbage.
Keywords: Cabbage; Fertilization; Reduction

1.General Situation and Setting of Demonstration and Comparison Fields

1.1 General Situation of Soil

The demonstration and comparison were carried out in the responsibility field of Li Fan in Group 8, Fangge Village, Wangji Town, Yicheng City. The soil is loamy fluvo-aquic soil. Its soil test indicators are as follows: available nitrogen 75.8mg/kg, available phosphorus 28.2mg/kg, available potassium 105.5mg/kg, organic matter 24.1g/kg, and pH value 7.8. The previous crop was corn.

1.2 Demonstration Setting

The demonstration had four treatments with three repetitions, and the plot area was 50m². A comparison was made between the application of organic fertilizer combined with special fertilizer for vegetables and three traditional fertilization plans of farmers, which were randomly arranged. The cabbage variety was Miyaluo, provided by Wuhan Jiutouniao Seed Industry Company. The density was 42cm in row spacing and 40cm in plant spacing, with 4,000 plants per mu. Other cultivation and management measures were the same. Sowing and seedling raising were carried out on August 14, 2017, transplantation was carried out on September 15, and harvesting was carried out on February 28, 2018.

1.3 Fertilization Plans

Plan 1: 50kg of 6% (3 - 1 - 2:45) organic fertilizer produced by Hubei Yishizhuang Agricultural Science and Technology Co., Ltd. was combined with 100kg of 35% (18 - 5 - 12) special fertilizer for vegetables (both are the application amounts per mu).

Plan 2: 60kg of 51% (17 - 17 - 17) Heimo Granular Compound Fertilizer plus 20kg of urea (46).

Plan 3: 100kg of 52% (26 - 10 - 16) Ezhong Compound Fertilizer.

Plan 4: 120kg of Ezhong 42% (18 - 10 - 14:15) Microbial Ecological Compound Fertilizer.

Fertilization was carried out in furrows in each plot and applied as base fertilizer at one time. The fertilization indicators of each treatment are shown in Table 1 (Plan 1 was the control).

2.Demonstration Results and Analysis

The demonstration and comparison were carried out by harvesting and calculating the yield of each plot. The comprehensive yield of three repetitions was calculated as the average value. The real - time selling price was 1.00 yuan/kg. The yield and benefit analysis is shown in Table 2.

2.1 Obvious Reduction of Chemical Fertilizers

As can be seen from Table 1, the customary fertilization by farmers is wasteful and causes serious losses. The demonstration plots reduced the amount of pure chemical fertilizer nutrients by 1.8 kg - 14 kg/mu compared with conventional fertilization, and the fertilizer - saving rate reached 4.5 - 26.9% without reducing the yield.

2.2 Significant Yield - Increasing Effect

As can be seen from the yield analysis in Table 2, the combination of organic fertilizer and special fertilizer for vegetables increased the yield while reducing the nutrient input. The yield per mu increased by 70 kg - 583 kg, with an increase rate of 2 - 16.2%.

2.3 Increase in Farmers' Income

The results of the demonstration and comparison prove that rational fertilization can increase farmers' income. The income per mu increased by 50.00 yuan - 543.00 yuan, with an increase rate of 2.1 - 23.3%.

3.Conclusions and Discussions

3.1 The Reduction of Chemical Fertilizers in Vegetables Deserves Attention

Vegetables are cash crops with high yield and good economic benefits [1]. Farmers attach importance to the input of production materials and blindly fertilize based on their feelings, resulting in low production - input efficiency, poor cultivated land quality, enrichment of some soil nutrients, and imbalance of medium and trace elements. As a result, there is a vicious cycle of increasing fertilizer without increasing yield and spraying pesticides without effect. According to the investigation of the fertilization status of various vegetables, it is found that the nutrient waste of conventional fertilization is about 10 - 30%, and there is huge room for cost - reduction and efficiency - improvement through rational fertilization.

3.2 The Combination of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers Is the Key to Reducing Chemical Fertilizers
The reduction of chemical fertilizers must follow the soil nutrient status [2] and the growth needs of crops. Increasing the application of organic fertilizers can improve and repair the physical and chemical properties of the soil, enhance soil biological activities, improve fertilizer utilization efficiency, overcome soil acidification, physiological diseases caused by long - term use of chemical fertilizers, promote the improvement of cultivated land quality, and achieve a gradual virtuous cycle of the soil ecology.

3.3 Research, Development and Promotion of Special Fertilizers for Each Crop Are the Best Choice
Special fertilizers for crops are suitable formulas that combine macro, medium and trace elements determined according to the growth needs of crops and the soil's fertilizer - supplying capacity [3]. They have the characteristics of strong pertinence and wide adaptability. Compared with general fertilizers, they have more comprehensive nutrients, less waste and loss, maintain soil nutrient balance, and significantly improve ecological and economic benefits.

3.4 Fertilization Suggestions

Based on the growth characteristics of cabbage, combined with the results of the demonstration and comparison, and referring to the farmers' experience in fertilization practice, when using the "Yishizhuang" series of vegetable fertilizers to achieve a commercial cabbage yield of more than 5000 kg per mu, the following fertilization suggestions are put forward [4]: (Apply N 16 - 18 kg, total nutrients NPK 35 - 40 kg/mu) ① 50 kg of 15% bio - organic fertilizer + 90 - 100 kg of 35% special fertilizer for vegetables; ② 80 kg of 6% organic fertilizer + 90 - 100 kg of 35% special fertilizer for vegetables; ③ 120 - 130 kg of 30% organic - inorganic special fertilizer for vegetables; ④ 100 - 110 kg of 35% special fertilizer for vegetables. Farmers can increase or decrease the amount according to the soil fertility.

References:

[1] Zhao Yitao. Soil and Fertilizer Science [M]. Beijing: China Chemical Industry Press, 2009.

[2] Zhang Zhenxian. Vegetable Cultivation [M]. Beijing: China Agriculture Press, 2003.

[3] Gao Xiangzhao. A Practical Manual of Fertilizers [M]. Beijing: China Agriculture Press, 2002.

[4] Wang Xiaoxue. Rational Fertilization for Vegetables [M]. Beijing: China Agriculture Press, 1997.