Plant Gene and Trait 2025, Vol.16, No.4, 173-181 http://genbreedpublisher.com/index.php/pgt 173 Review and Progress Open Access Trait Performance Differences and Fertilizer Strategy Optimization in Cabbage Under Organic vs. Conventional Fertilization Regimes Xuming Lv, Yeping Han Institute of Life Sciences, Jiyang Colloge of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding email: yeping.han@jicat.org Plant Gene and Trait, 2025, Vol.16, No.4 doi: 10.5376/pgt.2025.16.0019 Received: 11 Jul., 2025 Accepted: 20 Aug., 2025 Published: 27 Aug., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Lv and Han, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Lv X.M., and Han Y.P., 2025, Trait performance differences and fertilizer strategy optimization in cabbage under organic vs. conventional fertilization regimes, Plant Gene and Trait, 16(4): 173-181 (doi: 10.5376/pgt.2025.16.0019) Abstract Nowadays, people are paying more and more attention to sustainable agriculture. The application effects of organic fertilizers and conventional chemical fertilizers in cabbage cultivation have also attracted a lot of attention. Many studies have found that these two fertilization methods can affect the yield, quality, disease resistance and resource utilization efficiency of cabbage. This study sorted out the performance of cabbage under different fertilization methods, compared the differences between organic fertilization and conventional fertilization in soil ecology, nutrient supply and crop trait regulation, and explored the possibility of combining organic and chemical fertilizers to see if this compound fertilization method can not only ensure high yields but also reduce environmental harm. This study hopes to provide some theoretical references and practical suggestions for the fertilization management of cabbage and help farmers grow more green and healthy vegetables. Keywords Cabbage; Organic fertilization; Conventional fertilization; Nutrient management; Sustainable agriculture 1 Introduction Fertilization is very important for increasing the yield and quality of cabbage. As long as the nutrients are managed properly, not only can cabbage grow well and have a high yield, but also its nutritional content and appearance can be improved (Cui et al., 2022; Rempelos et al., 2023) The application of organic fertilizer and bio-organic fertilizer has been confirmed by many studies to increase the fresh weight and leaf count of cabbage, as well as the content of vitamin C, sugar and protein. Meanwhile, it can also reduce the accumulation of nitrates and nitrites, allowing for more organic matter and active microorganisms in the soil (Qi et al., 2021; Qi et al., 2022; Singh et al., 2023). In addition, fertilization methods can also affect soil fertility, the carbon-nitrogen cycle, and the types of microorganisms, thereby indirectly influencing the growth and quality of cabbage (Jin et al., 2022; Wang et al., 2024; Zhang et al., 2024). Nowadays, organic fertilization is becoming increasingly popular because it is good for the environment, can improve crop quality and soil quality. However, in pursuit of high yields, chemical fertilizers are still widely used (Kavaliauskaitė et al., 2023). Research has found that organic fertilizers can increase the content of beneficial substances such as phenols, carotenoids and vitamin C in cabbage, and also reduce the accumulation of heavy metals such as cadmium and nickel. But sometimes, the use of chemical fertilizers can lead to higher yields and more nutrients (Rempelos et al., 2023; Yfantopoulos et al., 2024). So when choosing a fertilization method, people often need to strike a balance among yield, quality, environmental impact and cost (Belay, 2021; Adhikari et al., 2023). This study summarized and compared the different performances of organic fertilizers and chemical fertilizers in cabbage cultivation, and analyzed their roles in yield, quality, soil health and environmental impact. This study aims to provide references for how to apply fertilizers more scientifically in cabbage cultivation and how to achieve green agriculture. 2 Organic and Conventional Fertilization Systems 2.1 Characteristics of organic fertilization: sources, nutrient release, soil interaction Organic fertilization mainly uses natural materials such as animal and plant residues, compost, manure and green manure. These fertilizers release nutrients slowly and can also interact with organic matter in the soil. Organic
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