Effect Of Compost Amendment Rate On Growth, Yield And Quality Of Cabbage In Ghana

A study was conducted to evaluate compost prepared from locally available organic waste at different application rates on the growth, yield and quality of three cabbage varieties in the forest region of Ghana. The cabbage varieties SK3-001, YR-RYOZAN and Grandslani were evaluated at .four compost application rates (control (Ti); 2 parts of compost to 5 parts of soil (T2); 4 parts of compost to 3 parts of soil (T3) and 6 parts of compost to 1 part of soil (T4) v/v). The nitrate and potassium ion concentrations of the petiole sap were monitored during the growing period, using compact ion meters. Nitrate and potassium ion concentrations in the petiole sap tended to increase until 48 DAS for all the treatments. Application of compost increased the nitrate and potassium ion concentrations of the sap, however, increasing compost application rates did not correspond to similar increases in nitrate and potassium ion concentrations. Results showed genotypic differences in response to the compost application. SK3-001 recorded the highest yield at 6:1 (2.5 kg/plant) while YR-RYOZAN and Grandslam recorded highest yield at 4:3 (2.4 kg). The control treatments consistently recorded the lowest yield (1.3 kg, 1.1 and 0.9 kg) for SK3-001, YR RYOZAN and Grandslam respectively. Compost application also affected the quality of the cabbage as measured by the brix values, Compactness and Head index. The lowest brix value was consistently recorded in the control.