Growth and yield performance of cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) as influenced by different doses of nitrogen and zinc fertilizers

Application of appropriate doses of macro and micronutrients is pre-requisite for maximizing growth and yield of crops. The present study was conducted at the Horticulture Farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from October 2022 to February 2023 to assess the effects of different doses of nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn) on growth and yield of cabbage. The two-factor experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The first factor was nitrogen having four doses of N, such as N0 = 0 kg/ha, N1 = 100 kg/ha, N2 = 150 kg/ha and N3 = 200 kg/ha and the second factor was Zn having four doses, namely Zn0 = 0 kg/ha, Zn1= 1.5 kg/ha, Zn2 = 2.0 kg/ha, Zn3 = 2.5 kg/ha. Significant variations were noted due to the application of different doses of N and Zn fertilizers in respect of all growth and yield traits studied. Application of N at 200 kg/ha contributed the best outcomes on plant height (32.72 cm), number of leaves per plant (47.86), gross yield per hectare (69.99 tons), marketable yield per hectare (45.98 tons) and the lowest yield per hectare (64.52 tons), marketable yield per hectare (38.37 tons) produced from control treatment. The highest level of zinc Zn3 (2.5 kg/ha) produced the best results on plant height (32.30 cm), number of leaves (48.26) per plant, gross yield per hectare (78.02 tons), marketable yield per hectare (61.62 tons) and the lowest gross yield per hectare (59.17 tons), marketable yield per hectare (29.40 tons) produced from control treatment. The maximum doses of nitrogen and zinc (200 kg/ha and 2.5 kg/ha), respectively showed the best performance on plant height (33.32 cm), number of leaves (49.53) per plant, gross yield per hectare (81.15 tons), marketable yield per hectare (65.78 tons) and the lowest gross yield per hectare (55.41 tons) and marketable yield per hectare (27.28 tons) were obtained from the control treatment. The results of this investigation revealed that application of nitrogen (N) and zinc (Zn) enhanced the affects the growth and yield of cabbage.