Effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth and post-harvest quality of chinese vegetable (Brassica rapa L.)

Abstract

A dwarf type Pak Choi (Brassica rapa L.) was cultivated using sandy loam soil in a greenhouse. Organic and inorganic fertilizer treatments were tested for their effects on the growth and post-harvest quality of the vegetables. Four commercial fertilizer treatments including chicken manure (CKN), vermicompost (VER), foliar biofertilizer (FOL), chemical fertilizer (CHE) and control treatment with no fertilizer (CTL) were applied at their respective recommended rates. Assessment was done on the growth parameter, visual quality of the vegetables, colour, plant pigments, firmness, and nutrients contents of the plants. The results show that the growth and post-harvest quality of the vegetables were significantly affected by different types of fertilizer. CHE had advantages over other treatments in attaining maximum growth and high essential nutrient levels but exhibited poor visual quality and low firmness of the leaves. The organic fertilizers gave marginal effects on the nutrients contents of plants, except FOL had positive effects on P, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe and Mn contents of the plants. Overall, VER and FOL were not able to enhance the growth and quality of B. rapa. CKN has significantly enhanced the visual appearance and firmness of leaves better than other treatments, thereby serving as good attributes for consumers to choose organic vegetables instead of conventionally grown vegetables.