Advances in Environmental Biology, 10(10) October 2016, Pages: 40-46

AENSI Journals

Advances in Environmental Biology

ISSN-1995-0756

EISSN-1998-1066

Journal home page: http://www.aensiweb.com/AEB/

Effect Of Organic Fertilizers On Growth And Yield Of

Brassica Rapa Variety Chinensis
1Ibrar

Hussain, 1Imran Ahmad, 1Noor ul Amin, 1Mehboob Alam, 1Abdul Mateen Khattak,
Sajid, 1Naveed Ahmad, 4Humaira Wasila, 5Abdur Rauf, 3Muhammad Ali, 1Muhammad
Naeem, 1Rahmatullah Khan, 1Syed Mubarak shah, 1Asad ullah, 2Syed Asim Shah, 1Maaz ur Rahman,
1Sohail Ahmad, 1Imran Habib Khan and 1Izhar ullah
1Muhammd

Department of Horticulture, The university of Agriculture, Peshawar Pakistan.

Department of Environmental science University of Peshawar.
Department of Agriculture Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan.
4
Department of Human Nutrition, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar Pakistan.
5
Directorate of soil and Plant Nutrition ARI, Tarnab Peshawar
2
3

Address for correspondence:

Imran Ahmad, Department of Horticulture, The university of Agriculture Peshawar Pakistan
E-mail: imran73pk@gmail.com
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Received 28 August 2016; Accepted 18 October 2016; Available online 22 October 2016

ABSTRACT
An experiment was conducted to find out the effects of organic fertilizer on growth and yield of Brassica rapa Chinensis at ornamental
nursery at university of Agriculture Peshawar (longitude 71.4685o and latitude 34.0198o) during the year 2015. The experiment was laid out
in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) having one factor including organic manure (farmyard manure, poultry manure and
mushroom manure) with three replications. Data were collected on different parameter such as number of inflorescence, number of leaves
plant-1, no of branches plant-1, stem diameter plant-1, plant height, leaf area. The collected data were analyzed by using LSD test. Results
revealed that the poultry manure had significantly effected different growth parameters like number of leaves (75.53), number of
inflorescence (18.8), number of branches(32.06) and leaf areas (46.33 cm2) followed by farmyard manure which had significant effect on
root length (7.36cm) and stem diameter (1.72mm), while mushroom compost significantly affected stem diameter (1.37 mm). The results
showed that among all the organic fertilizers poultry manure showed significant effect on most of the growth attributes .It was concluded
from the finding of present research that poultry manure could be used to obtain better growth and production of this variety and is suitable
for growth under agro climatic conditions of Peshawar.

KEY WORDS: Farmyard manure, chicken manure, Mushroom compost, Brassica rapa Chinensis.
INTRODUCTION
The Brassicaceae family is diverse family and include many economically important oilseed, forage, roots,
ornamental and vegetable crops. They are characterized by a very high level of intraspecific morphological
variation that has been manipulated through artificial selection to create various crops. Although most brassica
crops originated from the Mediterranean basin and surrounding areas, East Asia is a major secondary center of
diversity for several leafy brassica, including pakchoi (Brassica rapa L. subsp. Chinensis L. Hanelt.) [13]. Leafy
brassica were grown in China as early as the 5th century AD. [11] especially in southern China, and their
cultivation spread to other countries of East and Southeast Asia.
Pakchoi is a very important crop in East, Northeast and Southeast Asia. [13, 21, 26]. In China it accounts
for 3040% of vegetable production area. Short crop duration (harvest 4060 days after sowing), low production
costs compared with many other vegetable crops, ease of seed production and tropical adaptation of pakchoi

Copyright 2016 by authors and Copyright, American-Eurasian Network for Scientific Information (AENSI Publication).

41

Ibrar Hussain et al, 2016

Advances in Environmental Biology, 10(10) October 2016, Pages: 40-46

offer advantages to tropical farmers [4]. Unlike Chinese cabbage, pakchoi does not form a head but produces
clusters of glossy green leaves on shortened stems. Plants are commercially harvested before flowering when
heights range from 20 to 60 cm. Pakchoi varieties vary greatly in horticultural characters such as leaf shape,
size, and intensity of green leaf color, petiole color, shape and length, [21, 24, 8] and these characters reflect
local market and consumer preferences. In southern China, pakchoi varieties are often grouped into fall,
winter, spring and summer types [8].
Pechay is often used in stews and soups. It isn't tasty by itself, so it needs some salt and other flavor to be
added. Meals with Pechay (Brassica rapa) is often completed with other vegetables and fish or meat. The raw
leaves has a nutritional value per 100 grams as follows; Energy 20 kcal/kg; Carbohydrates is 3.2 g., dietary fiber
1.2 g., Fat .2 g., protein 1.2 g., vitamin C 27 mg.and sodium 9 mg. [7]. Leafy brassica are sources of Carotenoids
(particularly lutein and zeaxanthin), -carotene, glucosinolates, iron and calcium [25]. The importance of
calcium for strong bones and teeth, iron for proper hemoglobin function and -carotene as a source of
provitamin A is well established [22]. Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in the inner retinal layers of the 0eye,
where they reduce the amount of blue light reaching retinal structures and are thought to protect the outer retina
and retinal pigment epithelium from oxidative damage and reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration
[10, 17]. Carotenoids function to help prevent or neutralize free radical chain reactions and may reduce cancer
risks [5]. High consumption of cruciferous vegetables has been associated with reduced risk of some cancers
[19, 9]. Glucosinolates (compounds found in all crucifers that confer plant defense functions) release
isothiocyanates after plants are wounded by insects, harvesting or other disturbances. Some isothiocyanates are
powerful inducers of Phase 2 detoxification enzymes that can inactivate reactive carcinogens. [19, 23, 6].
Application of organic fertilizers is one of the favored methods of rejuvenating depleted soils and sustaining
fertility levels. In mature soils, crops respond more to the addition of organic fertilizers than of chemicals [15].
Successive cropping of Pechay grown in pots with vermin compost and ordinary garden soil as medium in
different combinations favored the growth and development of Pechay and gave higher income. Likewise, for
Pechay (Brassica pekinensis L.) commercial production, the use of commercial compost fertilizer together with
commercial effective microorganism is recommended for higher growth and yield [14]. Organic manure helps in
conservation of soil moisture which helps plants in uptake of nitrogen. In this way organic manure helps up
taking of nitrogen fertilizer [2]. The application of organic manures helps in soil structural improvement, it
increases porosity for air drainage, thats why the roots extend and exploit a larger volume of soil. It also
increases water retention in the soil [20].
Chineese cabbage is an important crop of china for vegetable production and it is not grown commercially
in Pakistan. Keeping in view the importance of pakchoi this study was conducted to check its growth response
in Pakistan under the agro-climatic condition of KPK, Peshawar at university of Agriculture Peshawar and also
to examine the effect of different organic manure on growth and yield of brassica rapa variety Chinensis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The experiment on The effects of organic fertilizers on the growth and yield of brassica rapa variety
Chinensis was conducted at ornamental nursery at University of Agriculture Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Pakistan during the year 2015.The experiment was carried out in Randomized complete block design having one
factor with three replications.
The seeds were sown in the plastic tubes containing leaf mold. The land was prepared one month before
transplantation of seedlings. Total area was 18m2 and were divided into 3 main plots of each having 3 sub plots
having 2m2 of area. Organic manure (farmyard manure, poultry manure @ 20 ton/ha and mushroom manure @
10 ton/ha) was mixed separately with soil and ridges were made separately from each manure in each subplots.
After 3 weeks of germination the seedlings were transplanted to field (ridges) having 2-3 leaves. Row to row
and plant to plant distance was (50 cm, 30cm respectively). All cultural practices were done uniformly for all
treatments such as weeding, hoeing and irrigation. Data was recorded on number of flowers, number of leaves
plant-1, no of branches plant-1, stem diameter plant-1 (mm), plant height, leaf area (cm2). The leaf area was
measured with a leaf area meter (portable area meter LI/3000A, LI-COR) randomly from each replication.
While stem diameter was measured using digital vernier callipers and root lengths was taken with help of
measuring tape.
RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS
4.1. No. of leaves plant-1:
Total no. of leaves plant-1of brassica rapa Chinensis to different organic manure were shown in figure 1.
Mean data revealed that maximum no. of leaves plant-1 (73.53) was recorded in poultry manure followed by
farmyard manure (65.83), while the poor result was recorded (65.07) in mushroom compost. Present finding
were also supported by Roe and Cornforth [18] that difference might be due to more availability of soil nutrients

42

Ibrar Hussain et al, 2016

Advances in Environmental Biology, 10(10) October 2016, Pages: 40-46

especially nitrogen and improvement of soil water holding capacity. Furthermore, organic fertilizers increase
many species of microorganisms, which release phyto-hormones and may have positive impact on the plant
growth and absorption of nutrients [3].

Fig. 1: Total no of leaves as affected by different types of organic manure.

4.2. No. of inflorescence:
No. of inflorescence of Brassica rapa to different organic manure were show in figure 2. Mean data
revealed that no. of inflorescence plant-1 (18.80) was significantly affected by poultry manure, (14.53) followed
by mushroom compost, while the lowest value for no. of inflorescence (9.60) was recorded in farmyard manure.

Fig. 2: No. of inflorescence as affected by different types of organic manure.

4.3. Leaf area (cm2):
Total leaf area (cm2) of Brassica rapa to different organic manure were show in figure 3. Mean data
indicate that leaf area (46.33 cm2) was significantly affected by poultry manure followed by mushroom compost

43

Ibrar Hussain et al, 2016

Advances in Environmental Biology, 10(10) October 2016, Pages: 40-46

(41 cm2) while the lowest value for leaf area (32.33 cm2) was recorded in farmyard manure. This observation
agreed with the report of Adebayo and Akoun [1] and [12] stated that organic manures improved crop growth
performance. Due to more availability of nitrogen increase chlorophyll content which ultimately enhance leaf
area [27].

Fig. 3: Leaf Area as affected by different types of organic fertilizer.

4.4. Root length (cm):
Root length (cm) of Brassica rapa to different organic manure were show in figure 4, it evidence from the
mean table that maximum root length (7.36 cm) was recorded in farmyard manure, followed by mushroom
compost (6.96 cm), while the lowest value (6.23 cm) for root length was recorded in poultry manure.

Fig. 4: Root Length as affected by different types of organic manure.

4.5. No. of Branches:
In figure 5. mean data regarding for no. of branches of Brassica rapa Chinensis to different types of organic
manure showed that Maximum no. of branches (32.07) was recorded in poultry manure, (29.67) followed by
mushroom compost, while the lowest value for no of branches (18.69) was recorded in farmyard manure.

44

Ibrar Hussain et al, 2016

Advances in Environmental Biology, 10(10) October 2016, Pages: 40-46

Present finding were also supported by Yildirim [27] who reported that soil nitrogen increased the vegetative
growth of the plant.

Fig. 5: No. of Branches as affected by different types of organic manure.

4.6. Stem diameter (mm):
The effect of different organic manure on stem diameter of Brassica rapa Chinensis to different organic
manure was given in figure 6. Mean data revealed that maximum value for stem diameter (1.72 mm) was
recorded for farmyard manure, followed by poultry manure (1.65 mm), while the poor result for stem diameter
(1.37 mm) was recorded in Mushroom compost. It clearly indicated that the vital role of the importance (FYM)
as a source for organic nitrogen. These results are in agreement with those obtained by Rakesh [16] who showed
that organic manure plus mineral fertilizer increase vegetative growth of broccoli plants.

Fig. 6: Stem diameter as affected by different types of organic manure.

Conclusion:
On the basis of result obtained from the experiment the following conclusion were made.
Brassica rapa Chinensis can survive under agro climatic conditions of Peshawar, Pakistan. And can be
grown in Pakistan for commercial production.
Poultry manure had significantly affected almost all parameters except for root length (6.23 cm) and
stem diameter (1.65mm).

45

Ibrar Hussain et al, 2016

Advances in Environmental Biology, 10(10) October 2016, Pages: 40-46

Therefore it highly recommended to use poultry manure for growth and yield of Brassica rapa
Chinensis under the Agro climatic of District Peshawar, Pakistan.
REFERENCES
[1] Adebayo, O. and J. Akoun, 2000. Effect of organic manures and spacing on the yield of Amaranths
cruentus, 20th Annual Conf. Proceedings of Horticultural Society of Nigeria. Umeh V.C. and Fagbayide. A,
(eds.): 63-67.
[2] Anonymous, 1992. Chinese cabbage or pet-sai In: Vegetable production in the Sub-Tropics and Tropics.
Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency, Japan, Text Book, 25: 146-157.
[3] Arisha, H.M.E., A.A. Gad and S.E. Younes, 2003. Response of some pepper cultivars to
organic and
mineral nitrogen fertilizer under sandy soil conditions. Zagazig J. Agric. Res., (30): 1875-99.
[4] AVRDC, AVRDC Report, 2000. Evaluation and Selection of Leafy Vegetable Cultivars. AVRDC, Tainan,
pp: 50-55.
[5] Clevidence, B.A., F. Khachik, E.D. Brown, P.P. Nair, E.R. Wiley and R.L. Prior, 1997. Human
consumption of carotenoid-rich vegetables, in Antioxidant Methodologies: in Vivo and Vitro Concepts, ed.
by Aruoma OI and Cuppett SL. AOCS, Champaign, IL, pp: 53-63.
[6] Das, S., A. Tyagi and H. Kaur, 2000. Cancer modulation by glucosinolates: a review. Curr Sci., (79): 16651671.
[7] Domain eingeben, 2012. Online. Available: www.bioscience.wsencyclopedia,
[8] Guan, P., 1993. The Vegetable Groups and Cultivars of Guangzhou. Guangdong Science
and
Technology Press, Guangdong, pp: 14-20.
[9] Johnson, I.T., 2002. Glucosinolates in the human diet. Bioavailability and implications for health.
Phytochem Rev., (1): 183-188.
[10] Landrum, J.T. and R.A. Bone, 2001. Lutein, zeaxanthin, and the macular pigment. Arch
Biochem
Biophys, (385): 28-40.
[11] Li, H., 1969. The vegetables of ancient China. Econ Bot., (23): 253-260.
[12] Moyin, J.E.I., 2007. Effects of some organic fertilizers on soil and coffee (Coffee arabica L), leaf chemical
composition and growth. University of Khartoum. J. Agri. Sci., 15(1): 52-70.
[13] Nishi, S., 1980. Differentiation of Brassica crops in Asia and breeding of Hakuran, a newly synthesized
leafy vegetable, in Brassica Cropsand Wild Allies, ed. by tsunoda S,
Hinata K and Gomez-Campo
C. Japan Science Society Press, Tokyo, pp: 133-150.
[14] Pascual, P.R.L., A.D. Jarwar and P.S. Nitural, 2013. Fertilizer, Fermented Activators, And Em Utilization
in Pechay (Brassica pekinensis L.) Production. Pak. J. Agri., Agril. Engg. Vet. Sci., 29(1): 56-69.
[15] PCAARD., 2006. Republic Act 10068 - (Organic Agriculture Act of 2010).
[16] Rakesh, S., S.N.S. Chaurasia and S.N. Singh, 2006. Response of nitrogen sources and spacing on growth
and yield of broccoli (Brassica aleraceae var. italica plenck), Vegetable Sci., 33(2): 198- 200.
[17] Ribaya, M.J.D. and J.B. Blumberg, 2004. Lutein and zeaxanthin and their potential roles in disease
prevention. J. Am. Coll. Nutr, (23): 567S-587.
[18] Roe, E.N. and C.G. Cornforth, 2000. Effect of dairy lot scraping and composted dairy manure on growth,
yield and profit potential of double-cropped vegetables. Compost Sci. and Utilization, (8): 320-7.
[19] Rosa, E.A.S., R.K. Heaney, G.R. Fenwick and C. Portas, 1997. Glucosinolates in crop plants. Hort
Rev.,
(19): 99-215.
[20] Sarkar, S., S.R. Singh, R.P. Singh, 2003. The effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil physical
condition and the productivity of a ricewheat cropping sequence in India. J. Agric. Sci., 140: 419-425.
[21] Tay, D.C.S., and H. Toxopeus, 1993. Brassica rapa L. cv. group pak choi, in PROSEA Plant Resources
South-East Asia No. 8: Vegetables (2nd edn), ed. by Siemonsma JS and Piluek
K.
Pudoc,
Wageningen. pp: 130-135.
[22] Taylor, M. and G. Ramsay, 2005. Carotenoid biosynthesis in plant storage organs: recent
advances and
prospects for improving plant food quality. Physiol Plant, (124): 143-151.
[23] Thornalley, P.J., 2002. Isothiocyanates: mechanism of cancer chemopreventive action. Anticancer Drugs,
(13): 331-338.
[24] Tindall, H.D., 1983. Vegetables in the Tropics. MacMillan, London, pp: 110-113.
[25] USDA, USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference 2007, Release 20. [Online]. (2007).
Available: http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=4451[26
March 2008].
[26] Watanabe, E., 1981. Development of major Chinese cabbage cultivars in Japan, in Chinese cabbage:
Proceedings of the First International Symposium, ed. by Talekar NS and Griggs TD. AVRDC, Tainan, pp:
11-28.

46

Ibrar Hussain et al, 2016

Advances in Environmental Biology, 10(10) October 2016, Pages: 40-46

[27] Yildirim, E., I. Guvenc, M. Turan and A. Karatas, 2007. Effect of foliar urea application on quality, growth,
and mineral uptake and yield of broccoli (Brassica oleraceae L., var.
italica).
Plant
Soil
Environment, (53): 120-128.