CHINESE CABBAGE

Botanical name :Brassica rapa var.pekinensis

Family : Cruciferae

Choromosome number : 2n=20

ORIGIN AND TAXONOMY

Chinese cabbage appears to have originated in China. The earliest known records
from the fifth century suggest that it arose from a cross between Pak choi from South
China and turnip from North China. Artificial crosses between these species have
proved this hypothesis. Its Chromosome number is 2n=20. Heading type cultivars of
Chinese cabbage may be grouped into (i) cylindrical head forms, B.rapa
subsp.pekinensis var .cylindrica called chichili, (ii )round and compact heading types.
B.rapa subsp. Pekinensis var.cephalata called chefoo and (iii) another form B rapa
subsp.pekinensis var.laxa is open headed.

INTRODUCTION :-

Chinese cabbage is annual to biennial crop but normally it is grown as an annual crop,
which takes 55 to 100 days from sowing to maturity, depending on variety. The loose-
headed forms are usually 2-3 weeks faster than the compact-headed forms. Chinese
cabbage is very popular and frequently eaten vegetable in Southeast Asia.
The head of a Chinese cabbage is not round like a common
cabbage head but cylindrical or barrel shaped head with a broad central midrib. The
cylindrical head of Chinese cabbage is firm but not as firm as cabbage at maturity.
The outer foliage and wrapper leaves are characteristically pale green, whereas the
inner leaves are blanched to a creamy white in color.

COMPOSITION AND USES

Chinese cabbage is rich in vitamins B1, B2 and carotene. It contains more vitamin C
than the lettuce. Among organic acids, citric acid is major acid found in Chinese
cabbage.
Nutritive value of Chinese Cabbage
(Per 100 gm of edible part)
Moisture: 95.0 gm Sodium : 23.0 mg/100 gm
Protein : 1.2 gm Potassium : 253.0 ”
Fat :0.1 gm Phosphorous 40 ”
Carbohydrates: 3.0 Iron: 0.6 ”
Calcium: 43 mg Thiamine: 0.05 ”
Carotene: 126 ug Niacin : 0.6 ”
Riboflavin:0.04 mg Energy 14 KCal

Uses

Chinese cabbage is used like common cabbage as cooked vegetable, as salad, in

soups, other Chinese dishes and also processed by pickling. Raw succulent white
midribs of the leaves are also sliced or coarsely shredded for Salad. It is often
processed as a brined product or used in pickles such as kim-chi. Leaves are also
dehydrated for later use.

CLIMATIC REQUIREMENT

Chinese cabbage grows best in a cool and moist climate. The optimum temperature
for growth in the first half of the growth period is about 20◦ C, and that for the second
half (head formation) is 15◦ C, however, it can be successfully grown at a temperature
range of 12-22◦C. The optimum temperature for photosynthesis of Chinese cabbage
is 25◦ C in early stage of heading. The light compensation point of photosynthesis
increased with increasing leaf temperature and the light saturation point increased
with increasing temperature in the range of 15-25◦ C but decreased above 25◦ C.

SOIL REQUIREMENT

Chinese cabbage can successfully be grown on a wide range of soils from light sandy
loams to quite heavy loams but it requires well-drained deep soils because it is
susceptible to root rot disease. A soil pH of 5.5 to 7.0 is ideal for the cultivation of
this crop but lime should be applied if the pH is below 5.5 as the calcium and other
nutrients become unavailable to the plants at low pH. Liming may also reduce the
incidence of club root. The best growth of Chinese cabbage has been observed with
EC 1.5 dS cm-1.

CULTIVATED VARIETIES
In India, generally, two types of cultivars are raised. In first type, the heads are
formed like common cabbage, whereas in other type, the loose leaves are formed with
open center.

OPEN POLLINATED VARIETIES

Leafy type

• Chinese Sarson No.1: A variety possessing field resistance to Alternaria leaf

spot developed at Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana for cultivation as a
non heading type with green broad leaves and semi erect habit. Its mid rib is
white and succulent and tender. It takes about 30 days for first picking after
transplanting. Its avge. yield is about 40 quintals per hectare.

• Palampur Green: A late flowering type variety developed at Ch. Sarwan

Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya , Palampur produces tender
green leaves with creamy stem. First cutting is taken after 25-30 days and
subsequent cuttings at 15 days interval. Total of 5-6 cuttings are possible..

• Pusa Sag: a variety has been developed at IARI New Delhi through a cross
between Wong Bok (Suttons) X Turnip. Its taste is like that of local sarson.

• Solan Selection: A variety developed at Dr. Y.S.Parmar University of

Horticulture and Forestry, Solan (Himachal Pradesh) produces light green
smooth leaves with fleshy petioles.

Heading type

• Solan Band Sarson: A variety developed at Dr. Y.S.Parmar University of

Horticulture and Forestry, Solan (Himachal Pradesh) produces barrel shaped
light green semi-compact heads. The head length is 20-25 cm and diameter10-
15 cm. The avge. yield is about350-40 quintals per hectare.

• Optike: an early hybrid developed by Bejo Sheetal Seed Private Limited

produces barrel shaped sort and compact heads with vigorous growing habits.
The head is of light green colour and good in taste. It is resistant to Fusarium
wilt.

SOWING TIME
In north India, the seeds of Chinese cabbage are sown in nursery during September-
October, and the seedlings are transplanted during October-November. In hill
regions, the Chinese cabbage is sown/transplanted during March-April.

RAISING OF SEEDLINGS

The sowing is done either in raised or flat nursery beds, depending upon the season.
Raised bed of 300x100x20 cm size is recommended for growing nursery. The upper
5-7 cm soil layer of nursery bed is prepared by mixing fertile and friable soil, well
rotten farmyard manure or compost and sand in ratio of 2:1:1. The optimum spacing
between rows in the nursery bed is 5 cm and depth of sowing should be about 1.5 cm.

SEED RATE

A seed quantity of about 500 g is required for raising seedlings enough for planting a
hectare area and about 2.5 kg seed per hectare is sufficient for direct seeding crop.

TRANSPLANTING

Chinese cabbage can be propagated by direct seeding as well as by transplanting.

Direct seeding is more commonly followed in leafy type varieties and the heading
types Chinese cabbage are usually transplanted. Plants are spaced at row to row
distance of 30 to 50 cm and plant to plant 30 to 40 cm in heading type. Generally
plant spacing are 30 cm between the plants and 40 cm between rows to produce heads
around one kg and a row spacing of 40 cm with a plant spacing of 35 cm for Wong
Bok and 30 cm for Michihili types to produce heads between 1 and 1.8 kg. In case of
leafy type, if seed is sown directly in seedbeds, thinning is very important to maintain
optimum spacing between plants within the rows. Seedlings are normally thinned at
5-6 leaf stage, about three weeks after sowing.

MANURIAL REQUIREMENT

Chinese cabbage requires NPK fertilizers in relatively large quantities as compared

with other leafy vegetables. It is advantageous to add 15-20 t/ha well rotten farmyard
manure about 2-3 weeks before transplanting or during land preparation. Besides,
nitrogen 125 kg and phosphorus and potassium each 75kg /ha are applied. Full dose
of phosphorus and potassium and one-third dose of nitrogen are applied as basal and
remaining two-third of the nitrogen is applied in two equal splits as top dressing after
the second and fourth cuttings in leafy types and 30 to 45 days after transplanting in
heading type.
IRRIGATION REQUIREMENT

Chinese cabbage is a shallow rooted crop. Most of the Chinese cabbage plants roots
remain in top 30 cm soil layer. However, some of the roots penetrate to a depth of 60
to 70 cm. Therefore, the crop needs a continuous supply of moisture. First irrigation
is given just after transplanting and thereafter at 10-15 days interval as per need of
the crop. Proper and regular watering is particularly important during head formation
since inadequate watering at this stage will substantially delay maturity, reduce the
marketable head size and yield. Inadequate water supply during head formation and
enlargement may also contribute to disorders such as tip burn, while too much
watering during head formation can cause root death and formation of poor quality
heads.

INTERCULTURAL OPERATIONS

The intercultural operations are essentially needed to manage the weeds under control
and to provide aeration into the soil around the root system. Crop weed competition
has been reported from 2 to 7 weeks after transplanting. Hence, the weed population
should be low during this period. Two to three weedings may be enough to keep the
field weed free. The time of weeding depends on the weed emergence behaviour in
crop. Earthing of plants especially in case of early crop favours better growth of the
plants.

HARVESTING

Chinese cabbage heads should be harvested when they are well developed and firm
but before the flower stalk starts developing substantially. It is usually harvested
manually with the outer leaves trimmed off and the butt trimmed flush with the outer
leaf bases. Harvesting should always be done in cool hours of the day and handled
carefully as the heads are very easily damaged. Immediately after harvest, the heads
should rapidly be cooled to as close to 0◦C as possible. In non-heading types fully
developed leaves are harvested near the base without injuring the central growing
point. Chinese cabbage heads are harvested 65 -80 days after transplanting. Whereas
the non-heading types (leaf types) are harvested 45-55 days after transplanting.

YIELD
The yield of Chinese cabbage is influenced by several factors such as the variety used
soil type, soil fertility, growing conditions and the package of practices followed
during the cultivation of crop. The average yield varies from 20 to 50 t/ha. However,
the higher yield up to 100 ha can be obtained by growing hybrid varieties. Growing a
cultivar Solan Band Sarson at a distance of 50x50 cm obtained a head yield ranging
from 320 to 418 quintals per hectare.

INSECT-PESTS

DIAMONDBACK MOTH: It is the most destructive worldwide pest of the brassica

crops. It can disperse over long distances. In caterpillar phase, it eats leaves of
crucifer crops, often causing a skeleton effect where most of the green tissues are
removed leaving the midribs and veins. Its caterpillars feed on green mesophyll cells
from one side of the leaf often leaving he opposite leaf surface intact.
Control: two sprays of 4 % neem seed kernel extract at weekly intervals are
recommended for this pest.

APHIDS: the aphids suck sap from the tender leaves and pods and can spoil the crop
very soon. Its infestation is more when temperature rises. It also transmits the viruses
in plants of Chinese cabbage.
Control: it can be managed by two foliar sprays of dichrovos 1 ml/L at weekly
intervals.

DISEASES:

CLUB ROT: it is a serious disease of cruciferous plants. Chinese cabbage is very

susceptible to this disease. The fungus is soil borne and enters the plants through the
hairs on root of young plants or through wounds on the roots or stems, causing the
roots to become thick and distorted. Severely affected roots cannot absorb water and
minerals from the soil and produce stunted plants, which usually fail to produce a
marketable head. Club roots spread s readily through infected seedlings, in water and
in soil attached to equipment or legs of workers. It is very hardy organism and can
survive and remain infectious for at least 20 years in the absence of suitable host.

Control:
1. In low soil ph conditions, the club root infestation can be minimized by liming
to bring pH above 5.5
2. It can also be managed effectively by soil drenching with Benomyl 0.1 g
a.i./200 ml per plant or soil application of Manocozeb 3.0 kg a.i./ha or
Flusulfamide 2.4 kg a.i./ha (Chetah et.el, 1999).

Mildews:
Downy (peronospora parasitica) and powdry (erisyphe polygoni) mildews can attack
the Chinese cabbage at any stage of development. However these mildews are not
much common in india. On mature plants, an infection deep within the head may
render it unfit for sale. Secondary infection by bacterial soft rots may further
complicate the cabbage quality.

Control:
One or two foliar sprays of Karathane (0.1%) or sulphur fungicides for powdry
mildews and of manacozeb (0.2%) for downy mildews are advisable for the control of
mildews.

Viral diseases:

In Chinese cabbage, the viral diseases are spread through aphids. The young plants
with turnip mosaic virus remain stunted, mottled and never reach harvest maturity.
Aphids transmits the virus, but the insecticides cannot protect the fields from
migrating aphids carrying the virus.

Control
1. Cultivation in a coarse net tunnel for initial 30-40 days results in a decrease in
infection upto 80%.
2. Aphid reflective mulching with aluminium film is also effective to control the
aphid infestation by 52%.
3. The occurrence of turnip mosaic potyvirus in Chinese cabbage can be
minimized by growing of crop under cheesecloth or under the spun bond sheet
tunnel of tunnel of 0.22 mm thickness for initial 35-40 days.