French: Chou; Italian: Cavolo; Spanish: Col; German: Kohl

| Under Tropical/Subtropical Conditions |

| Vegetables, general crop data |

Crop data

Biennial. Harvested part: Leafy head. Both direct seeded and transplanted. Harvested 70 - 120 days after sowing. Plant density: 28 700 to 40 000 plants per ha. Preferably grown in loamy sand, pH 6 - 6.5. Not tolerant of acid soils.

Adapted to cool (16 - 20 °C), moist climates. Generally irrigated. Target marketable yields in intensive commercial production = 20 - 30 t/ha.

Nutrient demand/uptake/removal

Plant analysis data

Fertilizer recommendations

Cabbage is a heavy feeder on fertilizer nutrients, except P. Heads will not form unless adequate N is given. Excessive N, on the other hand, may cause loose head formation and internal decay. The demand for P is greater during head formation. K deficiency can result in marginal necrosis and lower head quality, but an excess of K can cause the heads to open. The crop has a high S requirement and is sensitive to deficiencies of Mg and B.

Fertilizer applications are split, with part applied before planting. Ploughing-under of lime and compound fertilizer before planting is recommended. Use of a high analysis starter solution containing 0.75 kg nutrients per 100 litres is recommended when transplanting. The remainder of the crop's needs can then be met with in one or two applications during the growing season.

The N-fixing bacteria Azospirillum spp., which are present in many tropical soils, were recently found to promote cabbage foliage growth.

Present fertilizer practices

Brazil (Minas Gerais)

General recommendations are, firstly, 60 kg/ha N, 120 kg/ha P2O5, and 180 kg/ha K2O incorporated in the soil at planting and, secondly, 60 kg/ha N and 60 kg/ha K2O broadcast in 3 applications 15 and 30 days after planting and during heading closure. For improved yields also incorporate 30 t/ha of organic matter into the soil two weeks or more before planting.

Philippines (Los Banos)

240 kg/ha N, 60 kg/ha P2O5 and 60 kg/ha K2O, all the P2O5 and half the N and K2O applied in bands along the rows at planting and the remaining N and K2O sidedressed 8 - 10 cm deep one month after planting and watered immediately.

Senegal (Camberene)

On light sandy soil in a semi-arid area, 20 t/ha organic matter, 65 kg/ha N, 65 kg/ha P2O5, and 100 kg/ha K2O. All the organic manure and P2O5 and one-third of the N and K2O are broadcast before planting, one-third of the N and K2O is sidedressed 20 days after planting, and the remaining third of the N and K2O is sidedressed 40 days after planting.

India (Bangalore)

In sandy loams with pH 6.7: 150 kg/ha N, 80 kg/ha P2O5 and 40 kg/ha K2O. All the P2O5 and K2O and one-half of the N are applied before transplanting, and the remaining half of the N is applied 30 days after transplanting.

Further reading

GUPTA, A.: Effect of N and irrigation on cabbage production. Ind. J. Hort. Sci. 44, 241-244 (1987)

CSIZINSKY, A.A.: Nutrition of cole crops with the full-bed polyethylene mulch system in West-Central Florida. J. Plant Nutrition 10, 1489-1497 (1987)