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About/Vegetables/Cabbage
Introduction
and Importance:
Cabbage
(Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) of family cruciferae is a good
source of vitamins and minerals.
Trends,
Area, Production and Yield:
There
has been a progressive increase in area and production of cabbage in
Pakistan. In 1998-99, the area increased to 4.06 thousand ha,
production 62.2 thousand tonnes and yield was 15.3 tnnes/ha. The
data since 1993-94 are as follows:
Table-1.
Area, production and yield of Cabbage in Pakistan (1993-94 to
1998-99)
Year
|
Area
(000ha)
|
Production
(000 tonnes)
|
Yield
t/ha
|
|
1993-94
|
3.08
|
45.13
|
14.7
|
|
1994-95
|
3.24
|
47.91
|
14.8
|
|
1995-96
|
3.69
|
56.48
|
15.3
|
|
1996-97
|
3.84
|
58.65
|
15.3
|
|
1997-98
|
3.95
|
60.04
|
15.2
|
|
1998-99
|
4.06
|
62.18
|
15.3
|
The
average shares of the provinces in the over all area and production
of cabbage, based on the data of 1998-99 crop are given in the
following table..
Table-2.
Shares of Provinces in area and production of cabbage (1998-99)
|
Province
|
Area
|
Production
|
|
|
000
hectare
|
Percent
share
|
000
tonnes
|
Percent
shares
|
|
Punjab
|
1.67
|
41.13
|
33.86
|
54.45
|
|
Sindh
|
1.58
|
38.91
|
18.94
|
30.46
|
|
NWFP
|
0.48
|
11.83
|
3.61
|
5.80
|
|
Baluchilstan
|
0.33
|
8.13
|
5.78
|
9.29
|
|
Pakistan
|
4.06
|
100
|
62.19
|
100
|
Climate
Cabbage is a cool season vegetable. The optimum temperature
for growth and heading is between 15°C and 20oC. Above
25oC, the growth is arrested.
Soil
Cabbage
thrives best on soils that retain moisture. A soil in the pH range
of 6.0 to 6.5 is the best.
Seed
rate, nursery raising, transplanting and spacing
A
seed rate of 200-500 g is enough for raising seedlings for one
hectare. For production of seedlings, seed is sown in seed beds 4-6
weeks before transplanting in the field. The cultivars may be spaced
at 30-40 cm between the plants and 50-60 cm between the rows.
Manuring
and Fertilizing
Well
rotten farm yard manure @ 25-30 tonnes/ha should be thoroughly
spread and ploughed under during land
preparation. General recommendation for chemical fertilizers
is 100 kg N, 75 kg P2 O5 and 50 kg of K2O
per hectare. For better results, full quantity of P2O5
and K2O and half quantity of N should be applied before
transplanting. Remaining half of N should be applied four to six
weeks after transplanting with subsequent irrigation.
Irrigation
Seedlings should be watered immediately after transplanting
and thereafter irrigation should be applied at fortnightly interval.
Watering should be avoided at the time of head maturity since this
causes splitting of heads.
Hoeing
and Weeding
The crop should be kept free of weeds by hoeing. Three to
four hoeings are required to keep the weeds under control.
Harvesting
Harvesting should be done when the heads are firm. The mature
heads should be cut with a knife along with some wrapper leaves.
Yield
The yield of cabbage depending upon varieties varies between
20-50 tonnes per hectare.
Recommended varieties
Golden Acre
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