NUTRITIONAL QUALITY AND YIELD OF CAULIFLOWER (BRASSICA OLERACEA VAR. BOTRYTIS) AS AFFECTED BY FERTILIZER SOURCES

The effects of fertilizer sources on the nutritional quality and yield of cauliflower grown under protective structure were determined. The fertilizers sources were from three different compost consisting of oil palm empty fruit bunches compost (EFBC), chrysanthemum residues compost (CRC) and soybean wastes compost (SWC) and two different vermicomposts namely green wastes vermicompost (GWV) and vegetable waste vermicompost (VWV) with inorganic fertilizer NPK (12:12:17) as a control treatment. The amount of fertilizer applied was calculated based on 180 kg h^-1 of nitrogen. Application of SWC and EFBC resulted into slightly higher nitrogen content in cauliflower curds. Phosphorus and potassium contents were not significantly different among the treatments. Whereas, magnesium and zinc were increased and slightly higher in organics compared to chemically fertilized plant with curds of EFBC having the highest values. The curds of VWV can be harvested 7 days earlier than plants fertilized with inorganic fertilizer although the yield was similar with EFBC and inorganic plants. Highest yield (12.75 t/ha) was obtained by the application of VWV although statistically no differences were observed with inorganic fertilizer plants and EFBC. Cauliflower ascorbic acid was also higher in VWV and EFBC.