Assessment of quantitative yield losses due to chemical intervention in cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) under field conditions
Author(s): Kishore SM, Jemimah N, G Sridevi and M Venkateswara Reddy
Abstract: A study was carried out at the College of Agriculture, Rajendranagar, during the Rabi Season of 2022-2023.The field experiment was divided into 13 quadrates with a 1.5 X 0.5 m spacing between each of the 100 m² protected and unprotected plots. While the unprotected plots were left to natural infestation during the crop growth period, the protected plots were regularly treated with pesticides to prevent insect infestation. Significant variations in plant height, head diameter, cabbage head weight, and head damage loss were found between the two treatments when compared. The mean reductions in the unprotected plots were 20.2 cm, 10.59 cm, 0.88 kg, and 40%, whereas the protected plots showed mean reductions of 23.2 cm, 12.54 cm, 1.25 kg, and 11.69%, respectively. These variations led to quantitative losses estimates for plant height, head diameter, weight of cabbage heads, and head damage loss of 12.92%, 15.46%, 30.18%, and 64.1%, respectively. This indicates the effectiveness of chemical intervention in reducing yield losses in field-grown cabbage cultivation.
