Effect of nitrogen management on quality parameters of cabbage under temperate temperate conditions

There is a concern that use of inorganic nitrogen fertilizers alone cannot sustain high levels of productivity and restoration of soil health and environment. The use of farmyard manure (FYM), vermin-compost (VC) and microbial inoculants (Azospirillum) to improve plant nutrition may address these issues. Nitrogen management through vermicompost or farmyard manure and microbial inoculants in combination with inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and soil health needs better understanding. In this regard, a field experiment at SKUAST-K, Shalimar, with twenty four treatment combinations with inorganic fertilizers, organic manures and microbial inoculants (Azospirillum) was carried out for two consecutive years during 2010 and 2011. The experiment was carried out in split split plot design with three levels of organic manures (farmyard manure @ 10 t ha⁻¹, vermicompost @ 5 t ha⁻¹ and control), and two levels of biofertilizers (un-inoculated, inoculated with Azospirillum) as sub plot treatments and four levels of nitrogen (0, 100, 150, 200 kg ha⁻¹) as main plot treatments. The results revealed that the quality parameters viz., Crude protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Reducing sugars, TSS and Chlorophyll significantly increased with the application of nitrogen levels. Inoculation of Azospirillum showed significant results over control.