Abstract

Aim: The study was aimed to investigate the effect of irrigation schedules and nitrogen fertilizer application rate on growth and productivity cabbage at Buyo Kachama Kebele Seka woreda Jimma.

Materials and Methods: Three irrigation scheduling (3 days, 6 days and 9 days) and five nitrogen fertilizer levels (0, 23, 46, 69 and 92 kg/ha) were used with Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in 3x5 factorial arrangements with three replications experiments and one farmer practice using Copenhagen market variety of cabbage.

Results: The highest marketable yield was recorded at 92 kg ha^-1 nitrogen fertilizer rate and 9 days irrigation schedules, lowest unmarketable yield, highest total head yield, biggest whole fresh weight, biggest head diameter, highest head height, highest plant height, wider plant spread, highest water use efficiency and nitrogen recovery was recorded at 9 days irrigation schedules and 23 kg/ha^-1 nitrogen fertilizer rate, which was statically similar with 9 days irrigation scheduling and 46 kg/ha nitrogen fertilizer rate. Harvest index significantly affected by nitrogen fertilizer rate and irrigation scheduling but not by its interaction effect.

Conclusion: Cabbage crop responded positively to optimum irrigation interval and increasing nitrogen fertilizer rate. Irrigation scheduling (6 days) and  nitrogen fertilizer rate (92 kg/ha) may be fruitful for increment of cabbage yield and further research needs to combine another nitrogen fertilizer rate and combining effect of nutrients with phosphorous, potassium and other nutrients through irrigation interval.

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