A comparison of cabbage crop growth parameters and harvest maturity indices under different planting methods, with an emphasis on mechanical harvesting

The predominant method of cabbage harvesting in India is manual labor, which is both time-consuming and physically demanding. However, the introduction of mechanical harvesting could offer a viable solution to this problem. A plant physical properties database is needed before the developing mechanical harvesting system design. In view of this, a study was conducted to examine the effect of planting methods (flat, ridge-furrow and ridge-furrow with plastic mulch) on physical growth and harvesting age of crop and thereby find out the most suitable planting method for mechanical harvesting. For two cabbage cultivars (Syngenta BC-79 and S-996), the effect of planting methods on physical growth parameters (plant height, plant diameter, length of leaf stem, length of stem, stem diameter, head diameter, and head weight) and harvest maturity indices (compactness, specific gravity, total soluble solids, pH, and pattern of wrapper leaves) was studied. The planting methods had shown a significant effect on growth parameters such as plant height (270.56 mm), plant diameter (549.39 mm), stem length (58.61 mm), stem diameter (34.58 mm), head diameter (144.89 mm) and head weight (1.12 kg) at harvest. The maximum number of matured heads (83.66%) was recorded in ridge-furrow with mulch planting. The interaction effect of planting methods and cultivars was found to be non-significant for all physical growth indicators. The findings of this study provide a valuable planting method for cabbage growers from the perspective of mechanical harvesting.