Effect of irrigation methods and mulching on the cabbage in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil

In order to develop techniques that minimize heat stress of cabbage crop (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.) provoked by high air temperatures in São Luís (MA), Brazil, an experiment was carried out in a sandy Alfisol. We compared irrigation by sprinkler in two daily periods of irrigation (12:00 and 18:00 hours) and with and without mulching with furrow irrigation with and without mulching in a completely randomized design with six replications. The schedule of irrigation and the use of mulch didn't affect the development of the cabbage heads in the irrigation by sprinkler treatments, as these factors didn't significantly affect the compactness, the length of the heart or the mass of the cabbage heads. By contrast, in furrow irrigation the compactness and the mass of the cabbage heads were significantly affected by mulching, the absence of mulching resulted in not very firm heads and low fresh mass (mean of 300 g), and a low productivity (7.5 Mg.ha-1). The furrow irrigation in covered soil and sprinkle in covered or uncovered soil didn't allow better development of the cabbage plants.

Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.; sprinkler; furrow; temperature