How to fertilize cabbage more effectively?

Cabbage, also known as cabbage, Chinese cabbage, and Chinese cabbage, is a vegetable with high nutritional value. Some of its varieties have bright leaves and can be used for ornamental purposes. It has broad planting prospects. So how can we apply fertilizer more effectively when growing cabbage? Let’s learn more about it below.

1. Base fertilizer

The base fertilizer must be applied in sufficient quantity to ensure comprehensive nutrition. Generally, 3-5 cubic meters of fully decomposed organic fertilizer , including 40-50 kilograms of cake fertilizer, can be applied per mu before planting. 30-50 kg of superphosphate, 20 kg of urea, 15 kg of potassium sulfate, and 0.5 kg of borax. Or use 40 kg of compound fertilizer + 0.5 kg of borax.

2. Topdressing

Top dressing is generally applied twice during the rosette stage and the heading stage. When entering the rosette stage, the absorption capacity of the cabbage root system gradually increases, and the first topdressing can be carried out in combination with tillage and loosening the soil . Apply about 10 kilograms of urea or high-nitrogen compound fertilizer per mu. When entering the heading stage, cabbage has a higher demand for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrients. Generally, in the early stage of heading, according to the growth of cabbage, the amount of topdressing should be increased for plots with insufficient base fertilizer and weak growth. Generally, 40-50 kg of compound fertilizer should be applied per mu.

In addition, if the base fertilizer is insufficient, you can apply seedling fertilizer once 7-10 days after the cabbage is planted. The amount of topdressing should be small, mainly quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, to facilitate the growth of rosette leaves, enhance assimilation, and increase the differentiation rate of heart leaves.

3. Foliar fertilizer

Foliar fertilizer is mainly sprayed on the leaves to supplement the missing calcium, magnesium, sulfur, boron, zinc and other trace elements. For example, for boron supplementation, the formula is: spray 0.1% borax aqueous solution + 75 grams of potassium dihydrogen phosphate + 20 kilograms of water per acre. The calcium supplement formula is: 20 kg of 0.3-0.4% calcium nitrate aqueous solution + 50 g of potassium dihydrogen phosphate per mu.

4. Fertilization

(1) Cabbage has different requirements for various nutrients at different growth stages. More nitrogen is consumed in the early stage, and the demand for nitrogen reaches its peak during the rosette stage; more phosphorus and potassium are consumed during the head formation period. In addition to applying nitrogen fertilizer, the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers will have a better effect.

(2) The distribution of fertilizers should be based on a combination of base fertilizer and topdressing fertilizer; topdressing fertilizer should be mainly nitrogen fertilizer, with a reasonable combination of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

(3) The amount of fertilizer to be applied should be determined based on soil fertility and the required yield level. Under normal fertility levels, the yield of overwintering cabbage per mu should reach about 2,300 kg. 4,000-5,000 kg of high-quality organic fertilizer, 40 kg of urea, 100 kg of superphosphate and 15 kg of potassium chloride should be applied per mu.

In general, cabbage fertilization is very particular, and it should be applied reasonably according to the fertilizer requirements of cabbage in different growth periods. In addition, while fertilizing, you should also water the plants to promote heading and increase yield.