Standardisation of growth media and organic nutrient schedule for container cultivation of spinach beet (Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis)
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Date
2020
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Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, Vellayani
Abstract
An investigation entitled ‘Standardization of growth media and organic nutrient schedule for container cultivation of spinach beet (Beta vulgaris var.benghalensis)’ was conducted at College of Agriculture Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram during 2019-20. The objective of the study was to identify an ideal growth medium and to standardise an organic nutrient schedule for container cultivation of spinach beet. The study was conducted as two separate experiments with a field study and a concurrent lab incubation study on nutrient availability in different growth media. The first experiment was conducted during the rabi season of 2019 at College of Agriculture, Vellayani. The treatments consisted of five growth media {M1: soil : sand : FYM (1: 1 : 1), M2 - soil: rockdust: FYM (1:1:1), M3 - soil: compressed coirpith: FYM (1:1:1), M4- soil: rockdust: compressed coirpith: FYM (1:0.5:0.5:1), M5 - soil: suchitha : FYM (1:1:1) and three nutrient levels (N1 - 100% of 80:40:80 kg NPK ha-1 , N2 - N1 + 50% N topdressed in 3splits , N3 - N1+ 100% N topdressed in 3splits). The recommended dose of NPK@ 80:40:80 kg ha-1 was given as basal through the nutrient source poultry manure. In N2 and N3, nitrogen was topdressed as fermented groundnut cake at 20, 40 and 60 DAT. The experiment was laid out in completely randomized design with three replications. The crop was raised in UV stabilized woven plastic sacks of thickness 1400 denier capable of holding 15 kg potting mixture with 15 treatment combinations. Results of the study indicated that among the growth media, M5 registered superior values for growth parameters, viz., leaf yield per plant (118.08 g), leaf area index (2.07 at 75 DAS), dry matter production (33.05 g plant -1) and leaf yield per harvest (32.67 g per plant at second harvest) and was on par with M2. The major yield determining parameter viz., number of leaves harvested per plant was superior in M2 and was on par with M5 and M1. Root parameters including root weight and root shoot ratio were also found higher in M5. The quality parameters including vitamin A and C were found higher in M2 and the iron content was found higher in M1. M5 recorded higher uptake of N, P and K and it was significantly superior over all other growth media. The different nutrient levels did not exert any significant influence on leaf yield per harvest, leaf yield per plant and dry matter production. Between the nutrient levels, N1 recorded the highest number of leaves harvested per plant (23.29), Leaf Area Index (1.63 at 75 DAS) root weight (12.66 g) and iron content (2.5). However, the vitamin C and A content were significantly higher in N3. N2 recorded higher N uptake and nutrient levels didn’t exert significant influence on P and K uptake. Among the interactions, m5n1 was found significantly superior with respect to leaf yield per plant, LAI and dry matter production. Maximum leaf yield per harvest was also recorded in m5n1which was on par with m2n1. The root weight and root shoot ratio were found higher in m5n2. The treatment combination m5n3 registered the highest vitamin C and vitamin A content was higher in m4n3, m3n3 and m3n1.The treatment combination m1n1 recorded higher iron content. The interactions m4n2 recorded higher uptake of N which was on par with m5n1. The interaction m5n1 recorded higher K uptake and it was significantly superior over all other interactions. Even though m5n1 recorded higher leaf yield, the net income and BC ratio were lower due to higher unit cost of suchitha. The individual effects of M2, N1 and their combination m2n1 recorded the highest net income (4.85 ₹ bag-1) and benefit cost ratio (1.67). The concurrent lab incubation study on nutrient availability in different growth media was conducted in Completely Randomised Design with 15 treatments replicated thrice. The five-growth media combinations were uniformly supplied with the recommended dose of NPK (80:40:80 kg ha -1) as poultry manure and groundnut cake at respective intervals. The growth media samples analysed at monthly intervals indicated an increased release of nutrients in available form over the period. Prior to the experiment all the growth media recorded a pH range of 6.5 to 7 which showed an increasing trend. The growth combination with coirpith (M3) recorded slightly higher EC values (1.52) compared to other combinations. Initial content of organic carbon, available N and P in the media were higher in M5 and it gradually increased during the period of incubation with M2 recording a higher organic carbon content at second and third month. The available nitrogen status showed an increasing trend among the growth media combinations during incubation with M2 and M3 recording higher values. Though M5 recorded a higher initial available P status, M4 with rockdust and coirpith as media components recorded a significantly higher available P status after second and third month of incubation. Though higher initial available K was observed in M3, M1 recorded higher available K after incubation. Among the nutrient levels, N3 recorded higher available N, P and K during the period of incubation. Among the interactions, m2n2, m4n3 and m3n1 recorded higher available N, P and K status during incubation. From the results of the experiments conducted, the best growth medium and nutrient schedule for container grown spinach beet can be summarised as • Growth media: soil: suchitha: FYM in 1: 1: 1 ratio on volume basis with respect to yield and soil: rockdust: FYM in 1: 1: 1 ratio on volume basis with respect to quality and economics • Organic nutrient schedule: 100% recommended dose of 80:40:80 kg NPK ha-1 with entire dose as basal application
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174983