Impact of organic fertilizers on yield and nutrient uptake of cabbage ( Brassica oleracea var . capitata )

1Dept. of Soil Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh 2Hybrid Rice Division, BRAC Agricultural Research and Development Centre, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh 3Dept. of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh 4Soil Science Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute, Gazipur-1701, Bangladesh 5Dept. of Environmental Science, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, Gazipur-1706, Bangladesh


Goal of the study was to investigate nutrient uptake, growth and yield of the cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) variety'Atlas-70'as influenced by the application of different organic fertilizers. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) comprising five treatments with three replications were executed to conduct the study. Treatments were T 1 = Soil Test Based 100% Recommended Dose of Chemical Fertilizer (RDCF), T 2 = 5 t/ha Cow dung (CD) + integrated plant nutrient system (IPNS) based Chemical fertilizers (CF), T 3 =5 t/ha Poultry Manure (PM) + integrated plant nutrient system (IPNS) based Chemical fertilizers (CF), T 4 = 5 t/ha vermicompost (VC) + integrated plant nutrient system (IPNS) based Chemical fertilizers (CF), T 5 = Absolute control.
Results of the experiment showed that the same amount of N, P, K and S from cow dung, poultry manure and vermicompost showed significant differences (P≤0.05) on plant height, unfolded leaves, head circumference, marketable yield, total yield and nutrient content in cabbage.Organic fertilizers (cow dung, poultry manure and vermicompost) resulted better nutrient uptake as compared to the chemical fertilizers.However, vermicompost tended to be the potential organic source for higher yield and nutrient uptake of cabbage and thus is suitable substitute of the most commonly used nitrogen (urea) sources for the production of cabbage.

I. Introduction
Cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) is a member of cole crops under the family Brassiceae.It is one of the popular vegetable grown in winter season of Bangladesh.It is low in fat, high in dietary fibre, foliate, water and vitamin C, processing a very high nutritional density which can help to protect a range of diseases from cancer to cataract (Krish et al., 2007).In addition to containing B vitamins, cabbage supplies potassium and calcium to the diet.
Imbalance use of chemical fertilizer in vegetable and other crop production is a common practice in Bangladesh.The yield of vegetable crops declined due to depleted soil fertility.Organic manuring can play a vital role in sustaining soil fertility and crop production.It is a fact that use of inorganic fertilizers for the crops is not so good for soil health because of residual effect while organic fertilizer does not create such problem.Moreover, it increases the productivity of soil as well as crop quality and yield (Tindall, 2000).The farmers use chemical fertilizers as a readily supplemental source of nutrients but they do not apply in balanced proportion (BARC, 2005).Moreover, organic matter content in Bangladesh soils is very low (<1.5%) and is being gradually depleted (Ali et al., 1997).Neither the chemical fertilizer nor organic manure alone can help in achieving sustainable crop production.Even with balanced use of only chemical fertilizer, high yield level could not be maintained over the years because of deterioration in soil physical, chemical and biological properties (Khan et al., 2008).The integrated nutrient management is the best approach to maintain soil fertility and productivity on sustainable basis.
Cowdung is a good source of N, P, K and S which is responsible for the higher yield of cabbage.Batsai et al. (1997) reported that chemical fertilizers along with the organic fertilizers (cowdung) produced the highest cabbage yields.Poultry manure is especially suitable for acid soils as it has strong liming effect.It reduces the acidity of the soils and thereby protects crops from aluminum toxicity.These organic fertilizers can effectively be utilized for organic farming for high value crops that is the demand of the day in Bangladesh and elsewhere.On the other hand, utilization of earthworms to decompose and stabilize organic wastes has received increasing interest and popularity in recent years (Kale and Bano, 1986).Organic wastes when subject to decompose with the help of earthworms, the resultant product is vermicompost and the process is known as vermicomposting.Vermicomposting has been reported to be viable, cost effective and rapid technique for the efficient management of the solid wastes (Payal et al., 2006).Vermicomposting is a suitable technology for decomposition of different types of organic waste (domestic as well as industrial) into value added material.The earthworm species Eiseniafetida is mainly used for vermicomposting.Vermicomposting is a potential source of readily available nutrients, growth enhancing substances and a number of beneficial microorganisms like N fixing, P solubilizing and cellulose decomposing organisms (Suthar, 2012).Vermicompost contains more organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulphur, calcium and magnesium (Zahid, 2001).It not only helps to improve and protect the soil fertility of top soil but also helps to boost productivity by 40% with 20 to 60% lower nutrient inputs (Sunassee, 2001).Keeping these in mind, the preset investigation has been undertaken to evaluate the effect of combined application of inorganic and organic fertilizer on growth and yield of cabbage.

II. Materials and Methods
Experiment site and design: The experiment was carried out at the experimental field of Department of Soil Science of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University (BSMRAU), Gazipur, Bangladesh during the period from November 2014 to February 2015.The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications and five treatments.There were 15 plots; each having the dimension of 3 m × 2 m = 6 m 2 .Distance between replication to replication was 1 m and Line to line 60 cm, plant to plant 40 cm.However, the five treatments of the experiment were as follows, T 1 = Soil Test Based 100% Recommended Dose of Chemicals Fertilizers, T 2 = Cow Dung (5 ton/ha) + IPNS based CF, T 3 = Poultry Manure (5 ton/ha) + IPNS based CF, T 4 = Vermicompost (5 ton/ha) + IPNS based CF, T 5 = 0 (Absolute control) and RDCF= N 201 P 73 K 58 S 20 kg ha -1   Soil sampling and analysis: Soil samples to a depth of 0-15 cm were collected before initiation of the experiment and after harvesting of crops.Before initiation and the completion of the experiments, composite soil samples were collected from each plot (three replications) at 0-15 cm depth.Three auger samples were taken from each plot and divided into two sets of sub-samples.The collected samples were then air dried and ground to pass through a 2 mm (10 meshes) sieve and stored in a clean plastic container for physical and chemical analyses.Then after harvesting of cabbage, soil sample was collected from each plot.After removal of all debris, composite soil sample was made by treatment wise and the soil was labeled as post soil.The soil was air dried in room temperature in the laboratory.Then pH, organic carbon (%), total N (%), available P (ppm), exchangeable K (meq/100g soil), Ca, Mg, S, Zn, B and all other physical and chemical properties were analyzed of initil soil as presented in Vermicompost and organic manure analysis: Vermicompost was collected from Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh.
Organic manures analysis (cowdung, poultry manure and vermicompost) for P, K, S, Zn determination: The sample weighing 1 g was transferred into a dry clean 100 ml beaker, then 10 ml HNO 3 was added, boiled gently till the content became almost dry.After cooling the content, 5 ml HClO 4 was added, boiled gently until the solution became colorless or nearly so and dense white fumes fill the beaker.The contents of the flask were boiled until they became sufficiently clean and colorless.The contents were then transferred to a 100 ml volumetric flask by washing with distilled water through a Whatman filter paper no. 1.A blank was also digested without chemicals.The P, K, S and Zn contents were determined from this digest by the standard method of Olsen and Sommers (1982); Jackson (1973); Thomas (1982).

Organic manures (cowdung, poultry manure and vermicompost) for nitrogen determination:
An amount of 1 g vermicompost sample was taken into a 100 ml Micro-Kjeldahl digestion flask.Into the flask, 10 ml H 2 O and 15 ml conc.H 2 SO 4 were added and heated for 10 minutes.Then 5 g digestion mixture (K 2 SO 4 :CuSO 4 .H 2 O, Se = 100:10:5.1)was added in it after cooling the flask was swirled and allowed to stand for about 10 minutes, followed by continuous heating till the digest was clean and colorless.After cooling, the contents were transferred into a 100 ml volumetric flask and the volume was made with distilled water.A reagent blank was prepared in a similar manner by the standard method of Black (1965).Variety and application of fertilizers and manures: Atlas-70 Cabbage variety was used in this experiment.Thirty five days old seedlings were transplanted in the experimental field.The doses of 100% N-P-K-S were 201-73-58-20 kg ha -1 , respectively and these were used in the form of Urea, TSP (triple super phosphate), MoP (muriate of potash), Gypsum.The whole amount of P, K, S and 1/3 N were broadcast and thoroughly incorporated into the soil at the time of final land preparation and the remaining 2/3 N was top dressed in two equal installation at 25 and 45 days after transplanting.Cow dung, poultry manure and vermicompost were applied in the field before transplanting.

Requirement of N, P, K and S:
For high yield of cabbage, the required amount of urea, triple super phosphate (TSP), muriate of potash (MoP) and gypsum as source of N, P, K and S, respectively were calculated based on the book of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC, 2012).

Collection of data and analysis:
The data pertaining to plant height (cm), number of unfolded leaves per plant, head circumferences (cm), head height (cm), total weight (kg/plant), marketable weight (kg/plant), total yield (t/ha) and marketable yield (t/ha) characters were recorded from randomly selected 5 cabbage plants.After harvest, plant samples from each plot were collected and divided into stalk and head.The plant samples were analyzed for N, P, K, S, Zn, B, Ca and Mg contents.The samples were cleaned, dried and chemical analysis was performed by the methods of Piper (1966).On the other hand, post harvest chemical analysis of soil were determined on pH, organic carbon, N, P, K, S, Zn, B, Ca and Mg.The standard methods were (Black, 1965) for N estimation, (Olsen and Sommers, 1973) for P and organic cabon estimation, (Jackson, 1973) for pH, K, Ca, Mg and Zn estimation, (Thomas, 1982) for S and B estimation for soil analysis.Analysis of variance was done following the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with the help of computer package statistical 10.The data were analyzed statistically by F-test.The mean differences of the treatments were observed by least significant difference (LSD) test at 5% level of probability for the interpretation of results (Gomez and Gomez, 1984).

Plant height
The effect of cow dung, poultry manure and vermicompost in combination with inorganic fertilizer on the plant height of cabbage have been presented in Table 04.Significant variation (P≤0.05) was observed in plant height of cabbage when vermicompost, cowdung and poultry manure were incorporated into the soil.Among the treatments, T 4 treatment showed the highest plant height (34.9 cm) of cabbage.On the other hand, the lowest plant height (24.2 cm) was observed in T 5 (control) treatment where no organic or inorganic fertilizer was applied.Vermicompost is a tea like structure organic fertilizer which is more nutrient rich than the other organic fertilizers and might have improved the soil porosity, structure, water holding capacity and supplied other plant growth promoting substances and hence vermicompost significantly increased plant height.Similar result was reported by other researchers (Walker and Bernal, 2004).

Number of unfolded leaves per plant
Numbers of unfolded leaves of cabbage were decreased in organic fertilizer treated plots under the present study (Table 04).There was significant variation in the number of unfolded leaves plant -1 due to application of different organic and inorganic fertilizers.The highest (16) number of unfolded leaves in cabbage was observed in T 5 treatment where no fertilizers was used (control) and the lowest was recorded in T 4 (9) where 5 t/ha vermicompost was applied along with IPNS based chemical fertilizer.Comparing with T 1 treatment, it was observed that more number of unfolded leaves were produced in T 1 treatment (16) than T 2 (11), T 3 (10) and T 4 (9) treatments where organic fertilizers were used with IPNS based chemical fertilizers.From Table 4, it was also revealed that vermicompost treated plots with IPNS based chemical fertilizers produced less unfolded leaves compared to the other organic fertilizer treatments.Organic fertilizers should be incorporated with inorganic fertilizer for expected outcome through IPNS.Similar result was reported by Walker and Bernal (2004).Organic fertilizers help in constructing the leaves of cabbage to form the cabbage head.The more the unfolded leaves, the less the head form of cabbage.From this point of view, vermicompost resulted the best performance in constructing cabbage head than the other organic fertilizers with the same amount of application.

Head circumference
Significant (P≤0.05)variation was observed in head circumference of cabbage as influenced by different types of organic fertilizers with inorganic fertilizers.The highest head circumference (75.0 cm) was observed in T 4 treatment (Table 04).The lowest circumference (49.2 cm) was obtained from T 5 treatment.Among the treatments, T 4 showed the highest head circumference which was significantly higher than T 1 , T 2 T 3 and T 5 treatments.A similar result was found by Blatt (1991).

Head height of cabbage
Statistically significant (P≤0.05)variation was observed for head height of cabbage with the application of organic fertilizers (Table 04).Combined application of different organic fertilizers (cowdung, poultry manure and vermicompost) along with chemical fertilizers exhibited remarkable positive effect on head height of cabbage.The highest head height (14.2 cm) was observed from T 4 .The lowest head height (8.1 cm) was recorded from T 5.But use of only inorganic fertilizers is harmful for soil health.So, we should try to supplement a part of chemical fertilizer by organic fertilizers and application of vermicompost and other organic fertilizers gave better performance for increased head height of cabbage.Organic fertilizers can serve as alternative practice to mineral fertilizers for improving soil structure and microbial biomass (Dauda et al., 2008).

Total weight of cabbage plant -1
Effects of different levels of organic fertilizers (cowdung, poultry manure and vermicompost) on weight of cabbage were found significant (P≤0.05)(Table 04).The maximum total weight (2.4 kg/plant) was recorded in T 4 treatment.The lowest weight (1.1kg/plant) was obtained in T 5. Our results are in harmony with the findings of Noor et al. (2005).Application of organic manures improve the soil environmental and increase the microbial activity might increase the nutrient availability for cabbage production and thus increase the total weight of cabbage as compared to the sole application of chemical fertilizers.

Marketable weight of cabbage plant -1
Use of different level of organic fertilizers along with inorganic fertilizers increased the marketable weight of cabbage significantly (Table 04) at the 5% level.Among different types of organic fertilizers (vermicompost, cowdung and poultry manure) in combination with inorganic fertilizers, the highest marketable weight (2.3kg/plant) was recorded from T 4 treatment which was statistically significant from T 1 (1.9 kg/plant), T 2 (2.1 kg/plant) and T 5 (1.0 kg/plant) except T 3 (2.2 kg/plant), respectively.The lowest marketable weight was observed from T 5 (1.0 kg/plant) treatment.These results are in agreement with those of (Das et al., 2002).

Total yield of cabbage (t/ha)
Application of different doses of organic fertilizers exhibited significant (P≤0.05)influence on the total yield of cabbage (Figure 01).Total yield means yield of head along with unfolded leaves of cabbage.Among the different treatments the highest total yield (101.4 t/ha) was observed in T 4 treatment which was significantly different from T 1 (86.1t/ha),T 2 (93.1 t/ha) and T 5 (47.2 t/ha) except T 3 (97.2t/ha), respectively.The lowest cabbage yield (47.2 t/ha) was recorded in T 5 treatment where no fertilizer was applied.Treatments having vermicompost along with IPNS based CF showed better yield than other organic fertilizers in increasing the yield of cabbage.But it was notable that, without chemical fertilizers vermicompost or other organic fertilizers could not give better yield.Marketable yield of cabbage (t/ha) Significant (P≤0.05)variation of marketable yield was observed among the treatments (Figure 02).Marketable yield means just edible head yield of cabbage without unfolded leaves.The highest marketable yield (95.8 t/ha) was obtained in T 4 treatment which was statistically significant with all other treatments except T 3 treatment.The lowest marketable yield was observed in T 5 (43.1 t/ha) treatment.These findings are in agreement with those of Liu and Li (2003).

Effect of organic fertilizers and inorganic fertilizers on the nutrient content and uptake by cabbage Nitrogen content in cabbage
The highest nitrogen content in cabbage (1.90%) was recorded from T 4 treatment (Figure 03).This result was statistically (P≤0.05)superior to all other treatments except T 3 treatment.The lowest value was found in T 5 (0.96%) where no organic and inorganic fertilizers were applied.Earthworm casts typically have higher amount of total and available nitrogen, organic matter, total and exchangeable calcium, magnesium, potassium and available phosphorous compared to surface soils (Lavelle and Martin, 1992).Apart from providing the more available nutrient to plants, plant growth regulators belonging to the auxin, gibberellin and cytokinin groups present in the earthworm worked materials, are produced by wide range of soil microorganisms, many of which live in the casts (Tomati et al., 1983).
Earthworm casts had higher numbers of cellulolytic aerobes and hemi cellulolytic, amylolytic, nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria than the soil in which they lived (Elliott et al., 1990).Lee (1992) reported that microorganisms in the worm casts may fix atmospheric N in quantities that are significant for the earthworm metabolism and as a source of nitrogen for plant growth.

Nitrogen uptake by cabbage
A statistically significant (P≤0.05)variation was observed in nitrogen uptake by cabbage at harvest for different treatments (Figure 04).The highest nitrogen uptake (192.7 kg/ha) was recorded in T 4 treatment which was statistically significant from T 1 , T 2 and T 3 treatments and the given results were (122.2kg/ha), (157.3 kg/ha) and (173.0kg/ha) and the lowest nitrogen uptake (45.3 kg/ha) was recorded in T 5 treatment.Jat and Ahlawat (2004) reported that application of vermicompost to chickpea improved nitrogen and phosphorous uptake by the cropping system.Vermicompost is a potential source of readily available nutrients, growth enhancing substance and a number of beneficial microorganisms like N fixing, P solubilizing and cellulose decomposing organisms (Vimala et al., 2006).

Phosphorous content in cabbage
Organic fertilizers significantly increased the phosphorus content in cabbage as compared to the inorganic fertilizer treated plots.Effect of organic fertilizers along with chemical fertilizers on phosphorous in cabbage was also found significant (Figure 05).Highest content of phosphorous in cabbage was found (0.34%) in T 4 treatment which was statistically superior to all other treatments.The lowest phosphorous content (0.14%) was found from T 5 treatment.The results indicated that the application of organic fertilizers increased efficiency of chemical fertilizer and phosphorous uptake in cabbage.(Dixit and Gupta, 2000).

Phosphorous uptake by cabbage
Significant (P≤0.05)variation was recorded in phosphorous uptake by cabbage when organic fertilizers with chemical fertilizers were applied (Figure 06).Considering the effect of different types of fertilizers, the highest phosphorous uptake (34.5 kg/ha) was recorded in T 4 treatment which was statistically significant from other treatments and the lowest phosphorous uptake (6.6 kg/ha) was recorded in T 5 treatments.These results were in agreement with those of (Manivannam et al., 2009).

Potassium content in cabbage
Maximum potassium content in cabbage (1.4%) was recorded in T 4 treatment which was statistically significant (P≤0.05) over all other treatments (Figure 07).The lowest potassium (0.90%) was obtained from T 5 treatments.Similar result was stated by (Klara, 1998).

Potassium uptake by cabbage
Different treatments showed a significant (P≤0.05)variation in the potassium uptake by cabbage (Figure 08).The highest potassium uptake (145.2 kg/ha) was recorded in T 4 treatment which was statistically significant with other treatments.The lowest potassium uptake (40.90kg/ha) was recorded in T 5 .Application of chemical fertilizers with different types of organic fertilizers showed significant variation in respect of potassium uptake by cabbage.Bongkyoon (2004) reported that the effect of vermicompost (EVC) application were favorable than the effect of the application of a chemical fertilizers in case of both yields and content and uptake of nutrients of crops.

Sulfur content in cabbage
The maximum sulfur content in cabbage (0.17%) was found in T 4 treatment.The result was statistically significant (P≤0.05) with the other treatments and statistically superior over all other treatments.The lowest sulfur (0.05%) was found in T 5 treatment (Table 05).Similar result was stated by (Klara, 1998).

Sulfur uptake by cabbage
Statistically significant (P≤0.05)variation was recorded in sulfur uptake by cabbage when different types of organic along with inorganic fertilizers were applied (Table 05).However, the highest sulfur uptake (17.2 kg/ha) was recorded in T 4 which was significantly different from T 1 , T 2 , T 3 and the results were found (10.3 kg/ha), (12.1 kg/ha) and (14.6 kg/ha), respectively.The lowest sulfur uptake (2.4 kg/ha) was recorded from T 5 treatment.

Zn content in cabbage
The maximum zinc content in cabbage (0.035%) was obtained from T 4 treatment which was statistically significant (P≤0.05) to all other treatments .The lowest zinc (0.020%) was recorded from T 5 (Table 05).Similar result was referred by (Klara, 1998).

Zn uptake by cabbage
Application of different sources of organic and inorganic fertilizers showed a significant (P≤0.05)variation in the zinc uptake by cabbage (Table 05).The highest zinc uptake (3.5 kg/ha) was recorded in T 4 which was statistically significant from all other treatments.The lowest zinc uptake (0.9 kg/ha) was recorded in T 5 treatment where no chemical or organic fertilizers were applied.

Boron content in cabbage
After harvest maximum boron contents in cabbage (0.020%) was obtained fromvermicompost treated plots (T 4 treatments) which was statistically significant (P≤0.05)from others treatments (Table 05) except T 3 .The lowest boron (0.013%) was recorded in T 5 .The results of our study were well supported by (Klara, 1998).

Boron uptake by cabbage
Statistically significant (P≤0.05)variation was recorded in boron uptake by cabbage when different types of organic along with inorganic fertilizers were applied (Table 05).However, the highest boron uptake (2.0 kg/ha) was recorded in T 4 treatments which is statistically significant from all other treatments.The lowest boron uptake (0.6 kg/ha) was recorded from T 5 .

Calcium content in cabbage
As for calcium content in cabbage after harvest in T 4 treatment showed the highest calcium content (0.67%) which was statistically different (P≤0.05) from all other treatments.The lowest value was found (0.40%) in T 5 treatment (Table 05).

Calcium uptake by cabbage
Statistically significant (P≤0.05)variation was observed among the treatments where T 4 treatment showed the (67.9 kg/ha) highest calcium uptake by cabbage which was superior to all other treatments (Table 05).Second highest calcium (60.3 kg/ha) was recorded from T 3 treatment which was also significant from other treatments.The lowest calcium uptake was obtained in T 5 (18.9 kg/ha) treatment.

Magnesium content in cabbage
T 4 Treatment showed the highest magnesium content (0.34%) which was statistically (P≤0.05)significant from T 1, T 2 and T 5 except T 3 treatment (Table 05).The lowest value was obtained from T 5 (0.17%) treatment.Similar result was referred by (Klara, 1998).

Magnesium uptake by cabbage
Statistically significant (P≤0.05)variation was recorded in T 4 treatments which was superior from all other treatments.The highest magnesium uptake (34.5 kg/ha) was recorded from T 4 treatment (Table 05).The lowest (8.0 kg/ha) was obtained in T 5 treatment.

Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the nutrients status of soil after harvest pH in soil
After harvest, significant (P≤0.05)variation of pH was found in T 4 (pH=6.53)treatment (Table 06) which was significantly different from others treatments.The lowest pH value was found in T 1 (pH=6.06)treatment which was statistically similar with T 2 , T 5 treatments.It is noted that initial soil pH was 6.2.

Organic carbon in soil
A significant variation (P≤0.05) was recorded in the organic carbon content of post harvest soil samples as influenced by the application of different organic along with inorganic fertilizers (Table 06).Among the treatments, T 4 treatment showed the highest organic carbon content (1.11%).On the other hand lowest organic carboncontent (0.51%) was observed in T 5 treatment.Similar results were reported by (kamal et al., 2002) who explained that soil organic carbon increased when organic fertilizers were supplied instead of NPK fertilizers.It is noteworthy that organic carbon content of the initial soil sample was 0.8%.

Total nitrogen content in soil
Significant (P≤0.05)variation was recorded on the nitrogen content of cabbage field after harvest of the crop when field was treated with different doses of organic and inorganic fertilizers (Table 06).The highest total nitrogen (0.11%) was found inT 4 .The lowest (0.06%) was found in T 5 treatment.Bangar et al. (1990) found that organic fertilizers enriched the nitrogen content in soil.This might have happened due to the nitrogen accumulation in soil by the mineralization of organic nitrogen.The initial soil N was (0.058).

Available phosphorous in soil
Phosphorous content of postharvest soil showed significant (P≤0.05)variation for different treatments (Table 06).Combined effect of different types of organic and inorganic fertilizers recorded significant variation of available phosphorous content in postharvest soil.Among the different treatments, the highest available phosphorous (21.63 ppm) was found in T 4 which was statistically superior to all other treatments.The lowest (10.19 ppm) was found in T 5 .Guan (1989) reported that the application of organic fertilizers increased the availability of phosphorous in soil.The initial soil available p was (10ppm).
Exchangeable Potassium, Calcium and Magnesium content in soil Significant (P≤0.05)variation was recorded in exchangeable K, Ca and Mg content in soil after harvest of the cabbage which is shown in Table 06.The highest K, Ca and Mg were (0.32 meq/100g soil, 9.75meq/100g soil and 3.73meq/100g soil, respectively) found in T 4 treatment.On the other hand the lowest K, Ca and Mg were (0.20 meq/100g soil, 5.25meq/100g soil and 2.01meq/100g soil, respectively) were obtained from T 5 treatment.Ramalingam (1999) reported that vermicompost increased significantly potassium by 40% over the control.It is noteworthy that the initial soil K, Ca and Mg were 0.12 meq/100 g soils, 8.75 meq/100 g soil sand 2.46 meq/100g soil, respectively.
Available sulfur, Zinc and Boron in soil Significant (P≤0.05)variation was recorded in sulfur, zinc and boron content in soil after cabbage harvest where the plots were incorporated with different doses of organic and inorganic fertilizers in the (Table 06).The highest sulfur (17.93 ppm), zinc (1.94 ppm) and boron (0.26ppm) were found in T 4 treatment.The lowest sulfur (9.33 ppm), zinc (1.17 ppm) and boron (0.09 ppm) were found in T 5 treatment.The initial soil S, B and Zn were 15ppm, 0.20 ppm and 1.1ppm, respectively.Vasanthi and Kumaraswamy (1999) showed from an experiment with vermicompost and NPK fertilizers that organic carbon content and fertility status as reflected by the available status of micronutrients such as zinc were higher and bulk density were lower in the treatments that received vermicompost plus N, P and K than in the treatments with N, P and K alone.

IV. Conclusion
The result revealed that when vermicompost was applied in combination with integrated plant nutrient system along with recommended doses chemical fertilizers, the effect showed better performance on yield rather than applying chemical fertilizers alone.Thus we conclude that vermicompost can be used either in combination with fertilizers or alone for satisfactory yield of cabbage.

T 1 =Figure 01 .Figure 02 .
Figure 01.Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the total yield of cabbage.

T 1 =Figure 03 .T 1 =
Figure 03.Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the nitrogen content in cabbage.

26 T 1 =T 1 =
Figure 05.Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the phosphorous content in cabbage.

T 1 =T 1 =
Figure 07.Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the potassium content in cabbage.