Cultivation - Life Cycle of Cabbage

Description:

Hi, welcome to Tutorialspoint. In this tutorial, we will talk about the cultivation process of Cabbage crop. The Scientific name of cabbage is Brassica oleracea var. capitate. This crop belongs to the family Brassicaceae.

Cabbage has an adventitious root system and an unbranched stem that is usually less than 30cms long.

The “head” is in the center of the plant. The head of the cabbage is a large vegetative terminal bud, which is formed by the overlapping of numerous leaves developing over the growing point of its shortened stem.

The outer leaves are green in color and the inner ones are white. The leaves increase in number with the growth of the plant, forming a ball-shaped head.

Cabbage can adapt itself to a wide range of climatic conditions. However, the cultivation of cabbage requires a relatively cool and humid climate. The yield and quality are poor in summer and it is also difficult to control insect pests during this time. The optimum temperatures for growth and development range from 18^°C to 20^°C. The cabbage crop resistant to frost.

The different stages in the cultivation process of cabbage are −

• Land preparation
• Drip irrigation
• Seedlings cultivation in nursery
• Transplantation
• Pest and disease management
• Harvesting

Let us now understand how the land is prepared for the cultivation of cabbage.

Land Preparation

Cabbage can be grown on a wide range of soils. The crop grows best on well-drained, moisture-retentive loamy soils well supplied with organic matter. It does not grow well on highly acidic soil. The ideal soil pH ranges from 5.5 to 6.5.

The land must be ploughed deeply before planting, with a disk harrow or other suitable implement to a depth of 30 to 45 cms. Bulky organic manures along with 200 to 250 kgs nitrogen per hectare should be spread in the field. If the soil is boron deficient, 5-10 kgs of Borax per hectare should be applied to the field. Then, the land should be levelled with rotator.

Once, the land preparation is complete we have to arrange the drip irrigation for the field. Let us now understand the arrangement of drip irrigation.

Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation saves water and fertilizer by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, either onto the soil surface or directly into the root zone, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters.

Overhead irrigation wets the plants but produces runoff. In contrast, drip irrigation is a much more controlled irrigation method. It works by exposing the roots to a direct supply of water. Drip irrigation system releases water in a slow and steady fashion and a controlled amount of water is supplied to plants at regular intervals.

We will further talk about the next stage that is the seedlings cultivation in nursery.

Seedlings Cultivation in Nursery

The pro trays are filled with coco peat. Coco peat is the product obtained from coconut coir. It has high water holding capacity. An average 1kg seeds per hectare is required for cultivation. One seed per cell is sown and covered with coco peat. Coco peat has high moisture retention capacity; hence, there is no need for irrigation until germination. After sowing, 10 trays are kept one over the other for 3 to 6 days. On germination of seedlings, trays are shifted to net house and spread over the beds to avoid etiolation.

The trays are irrigated depending on the prevailing weather using a fine sprinkling rose can or hose-pipe fitted with rose. Trays are drenched with water-soluble fertilizer at 12 and 20 days after sowing is practiced. This enhances the growth of the seedlings.

The trays are provided with protective cover from rain by covering with polyethylene sheets in the form of low tunnel during rains. The seedlings are now ready for transplanting in about 25 to 30 days.

The seedlings are ready in 3-4 weeks for transplanting, when they attained a height of 12-15 cm with 3 to 4 leaves. Harden the seedlings by withholding irrigation. Uproot the seedlings carefully without injury to the roots.

Let us see the transplantation of seedlings in the irrigated field.

Transplantation

Seedlings should be transplanted as soon as they are removed from the pro trays. Transplanting is done on moist soil. The soil around the roots should be firm and irrigated well before transplantation.

The head size, head shape and yield are influenced by factors such as plant population and spacing influence. Cabbage plant populations vary according to the target market for a particular crop. Cabbage forms smaller and slightly more pointed heads when they are spaced closely. Plant populations of 40 000 to 45 000 per hectare are suggested for large-headed types while for cultivars with medium-sized heads, populations of 55 000 to 65 000 plants per hectare are said to be ideal. Large-headed cultivars should be planted 60 to 70 cms apart between rows and 45 cms apart within rows. Smaller-headed varieties are planted 60 X 30 cms apart. Once transplantation is over irrigate immediately.

Irrigation should be applied at intervals of 10 to 12 days in heavy soils or eight days in light soils and the schedule should be followed until the heads are fully developed and firm. Young plants should receive enough water for vegetative growth before forming heads.

Once the crop is growing, there comes the problem of attacks by pests and diseases. Let us now understand pest and disease management in the cultivation process of cabbage crop.

Pest and Disease Management

The major pest attacks in cabbage crops are caused by Aphids, Diamond black moth, cut worm, cabbage looper.

The diseases that attack cabbage crop are Damping off, Fusarium wilt, Black rot, Downy mildew, Bacterial leafspot.

• Spraying of neem oil to control aphids is suggested.
• Thiodicarb can be sprayed to control the diamond black moth attack.
• Spraying of Chlorpyriphos 2 ml/lit in the collar region during the evening hours is suggested for the control of common cutworm.
• Spraying of Carbendazim to control club rot is suggested.
• Mancozeb can be sprayed to control the leaf spot disease.
• Mancozeb can also control leaf blight. Copper oxy chloride stops the disease Ring Spot.
• The combined spraying of (Metalaxyl + Mancozeb) controls downy mildew.
• The combined spraying of (Copper oxychloride + Streptomycin) controls the black rot disease.

Let us now see how the cabbages are harvested from our field.

Harvesting and Yield

The cabbage crop is ideal for harvesting when the heads attain their full size and become firm and hard but tender. After 75 to 80 days’ from the transplantation, the cabbage crop reaches the harvesting stage. The color of the head is sometimes used as a maturity index. A fully developed head has a lighter shade of green. With delayed harvesting, the heads may split and lead to rots. The heads harvested early may be soft.

Knife or sickle can be used to harvest the crop for the fresh market. The heads should be cut off in such a way that a few of the large, open wrapper leaves are left for protection around the heads. Measures should be taken to avoid bruising of the heads while harvesting as this makes them unattractive. Most of the stem should be left on the head if the crop is to be stored.

An average yield of 70 – 80 tones/ha can be obtained for cabbage crop.