Vol. 7, Issue 12, Part H (2025)

Red cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. rubra) is an exotic vegetable that is high in antioxidants, anthocyanin pigments, vitamins and medicinal properties. This study was conducted to assess the impact of bio-fertilizers and organic manures on the growth, quality and nutritional characteristics of red cabbage in Punjab's agro-climatic conditions. The experiment took place at the Experimental Research Farm, Department of Agriculture, Mata Gujri College, Fatehgarh Sahib and used the hybrid cultivar "Ruby Ball F₁. The experiment was designed as a factorial randomised block design with sixteen treatment combinations that included bio-fertilizers (Azotobacter, phosphate solubilising bacteria, potash solubilising bacteria and control) and organic manures (farmyard manure, poultry manure, vermicompost and control). Each treatment was repeated three times. We kept track of growth parameters like plant height, spread, number of leaves, leaf area, leaf length and width, stalk length and diameter, phenological traits like days to head initiation and maturity, head characters and quality and biochemical attributes like total soluble solids, shelf life, titratable acidity, moisture content, dry matter, vitamin A, ascorbic acid, anthocyanin content and physiological loss in weight. The findings indicated that the applications of bio-fertilizer and organic manure had a substantial impact on all measured parameters. Azotobacter applied at 5.0 kg ha^-¹ consistently produced better growth, earlier head initiation and better quality and nutritional attributes than other bio-fertilizers. It led to higher total soluble solids, a longer shelf life, better moisture retention and more vitamin A, ascorbic acid and anthocyanins, while lowering titratable acidity, dry matter percentage and physiological weight loss. Vermicompost applied at 5 t ha^-¹ was the best of the organic manures. It made vegetative growth, head characteristics and biochemical quality much better. The combined use of Azotobacter and vermicompost turned out to be the best and most long-lasting way to manage nutrients for growing red cabbage. This method not only improved growth, quality and nutritional value, but it also provided an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to relying solely on inorganic fertilisers, which helps make vegetable production systems more sustainable.