UPTAKE AND AVAILABILITY OF MAJOR NUTRIENTS IN CABBAGE CROP AMENDED WITH ORGANIC AND INORGANIC NUTRIENT SOURCES UNDER EASTERN HIMALAYAN REGION

An investigation was conducted to assess the influence of integrated use of organic manures (farmyard manure and vermicompost), inorganic fertilizers and Azophos biofertilizer on uptake of plant nutrients and post harvest soil fertility status of cabbage cultivation. The pooled results revealed that uptake of major nutrients were significantly influenced by the combination of different sources of nutrients and combined application of vermicompost (2.5 t/ha) and 100 percent of recommended inorganic fertilizers along with seedling inoculation with Azophos biofertilizer resulted in maximum uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium by the cabbage plants. However the maximum available nitrogen, phosphorus and potash content of the soil was obtained with higher level of vermicompost (5 t/ha) supplemented with reduced level of 75 percent recommended inorganic fertilizers in presence of biofertilizer. The findings established that integrated use of vermicompost, inorganic fertilizers and seedling inoculation with biofertilizers had beneficial effect in increasing head yield, plant uptake and availability of major nutrients.