ASSESSMENT OF PRODUCTIVE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFICIENCY OF SLOW-RELEASE FERTILIZERS IN INTEGRATED PRODUCTION OF NAPA CABBAGE DEPENDING ON APPLICATION METHOD

Abstract

The study aimed to assess the suitability of slow-release fertilizers in cultivation of napa cabbage in the integrated production system. The objective was realized on the basis of a strict field experiment set up on soil with granulometric composition of light loam. The dose of fertilizer was the first experimental factor, and the fertilizer application was the second factor. The slow-acting fertilizer was applied under each plant during planting of seedlings and in the second variant. The fertilizer was applied in the row, about 5 cm under the seedling root level. On the basis of the results obtained in the experiments, the indices showing nitrogen fertilization efficiency were calculated.
Fertilization significantly modified the quantity of obtained yield. In the control, without mineral fertilization, the crop yield was 23.32 Mg ha^-1. The largest yield was 52.27 Mg ha^-1. Larger yields and more advantageous productive and environmental efficiency were obtained in objects with row application of fertilizer. The most advantageous agronomic efficiency and nitrogen recovery efficiency were obtained in the combination of 400 kg ha^-1 of slow-acting fertilizer with traditional supplementary PK fertilizers in the case of point application of fertilizers. In the case of row fertilizer application, it is possible to use 50% more of the fertilizer dose without compromising the quality of the crop. Higher doses of free-acting fertilizers increased the standard deviation of the mass of cabbage, which is not desirable for production. The results show that under conditions of low mineral content in the soil, the slow-acting fertilizers can be used at a low level.

Keywords: napa cabbage, integrated production, slow-acting fertilizer, fertilization efficiency

Article DOI: http://doi.org/10.15544/RD.2017.079