ISHS Acta Horticulturae 163: Symposium on Quality of Vegetables
YIELD AND QUALITY OF KALE AS AFFECTED BY NITROGEN SIDE-DRESSING, SPACING AND SUPPLEMENTARY IRRIGATION |
| Author: | J.A. Chweya |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.1984.163.33 |
| Abstract:
The effects of spacing, nitrogen side-dressing and supplementary irrigation on yield and quality of 'Thousand headed' kale (Brassica oleracea var. acephala) plants were studied. Wide spacing increased mean fresh weight, branching and leaf production of kale plants. Close spacing significantly increased total leaf yield per hectare, but decreased leaf:petiole ratio per plant. Interaction between N and spacing for yield was not significant. Supplementary irrigation tended to increase leaf size of plants that were widely spaced and had been side-dressed with N. Side-dressing with N had no significant effect on quality of kale leaves but tended to increase total N and dietary fibre. Close spacing tended to increase dietary fibre and thioyanate ion contents in the leaves. Side-dressing with N and irrigating generally increased nitrate N in the leaves whereas side-dressing with N without irrigating increased dietary fibre in the leaves. | |
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