EFFECT OF SPACING AND FERTILIZER RATES ON CABBAGE YIELD AND HEAD WEIGHT

The cabbage hybrid, 'Rio Verde', was grown at spacings of 9, 12, and 15 inches in rows on 30-inch centers and in 3-row beds on 60-inch centers, under 3 levels of fer tilization at Sanford. Yield responses, average weight of heads, and per cent marketable cabbage data were taken on 3 plantings to represent fall, winter, and spring crops. First harvest dates were February 19, April 1, and May 5, 1976. Soil samples were taken before and after the growing season. Highest marketable yields for all three plantings were obtained on the 30-inch rows with plants spaced 12 inches and the high fertilizer rate. The average head weight was 3.8 pounds for this treatment. The lowest marketable yield was with 3 row beds at 9-inch spacing and the low fertilizer rate. A rapid increase in cabbage production costs with little increase in price per crate has emphasized the importance of good cultural practices to reduce costs. Traditionally, grow ers have increased production per acre to off-set the in creased cost of production. Higher yields per acre have been achieved by higher rates of fertilizer, closer spacings, new cultivars, better pest control, and attention to water man agement. It has long been accepted that applications of nitrogen fertilizer to cabbage increased yields, plant uniformity, and quality (2, 4). Plant spacing has also been shown to be re lated to head weight and per cent marketable yield (1, 3). In general, as the plant spacing is increased the head weight increased and the per cent marketable cabbage increased. Hybrid cultivars have also produced higher yields of mar ketable cabbage than the open-pollinated types (1, 5). The objective of this study was to determine the re sponse of a widely grown cabbage hybrid to three plant spacings in the row with two row spacings and three rates of fertilizer on the yield, size of head, and percent market able heads. Methods Soil samples were taken before and after the growing season to determine the fertility level of the Leon fine sand. The hybrid cultivar, 'Rio Verde', was transplanted in October and December 1975, and in February 1976, to rep resent the fall, winter, and spring growing seasons in cenTreatment Plants/acre