Organic production of spinach beet (Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis) through the use of manures and biofertilizers and their effect on its growth, yield and quality
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Date
2017
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SKUAST Kashmir
Abstract
Present investigation entitled “Organic production of spinach beet (Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis) through the use of manures and biofertilizers and their effect on its growth, yield and quality” was carried out at Vegetable Experimental Field, Division of Vegetable Science, SKUAST-Kashmir during Rabi 2016. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with three replications and comprised of nine treatments. Observations were recorded on growth, yield, quality and soil physical and chemical parameters. The investigation revealed that the Treatment T6 (Vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1 + Azospirillum+ PSB @ 5 kg ha-1) recorded higher values for seedling emergence (97.68%), seedling shoot length (6.19 cm), root length (9.09 cm), seedling vigour index (1492.55), plant height (27.18, 27.44 and 27.48 cm), weight of the leaf blade (1.13, 2.55 and 3.54 g), weight of the leaf petiole (0.48, 0.50 and 0.63 g). It was further revealed that Treatment T6 (Vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1 + Azospirillum+ PSB @ 5 kg ha-1) recorded maximum values for leaf area (20.10, 64.10 and 104.30 cm2), leaf yield plant-1 (17.62, 29.27 and 29.26 g), leaf yield ha-1 (58.73, 97.58 and 97.88 q), dry matter content (15.92, 16.47 and 18.27 %), ascorbic acid content (202.52,166.10 and 155.12 mg 100 g-1), leaf chlorophyll content (3.25, 0.98 and 0.76 mg g-1), crude fibre content (9.50, 8.86 and 7.76 %), available nitrogen (287.16 kg ha-1), available phosphorous (28.91 kg ha-1) , available potassium (229.03 kg ha-1), pH (6.96), EC (0.122 dS m-1) and OC (1.35 %). Lowest nitrate content was found in treatment T7 (Farm yard manure @ 12.0 t ha-1 + Azospirillum+ PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 (447.33, 348.33 and 268.33 mg kg-1) and was statistically at par with treatment T6 (453.00, 355.39 and 270.33 mg kg-1). Higher leaf blade petiole ratio (5.72, 5.14 and 7.33) and leaf moisture content was found in treatment T5 (Mustard cake @ 1.2 t ha-1). Economics of production revealed that higher net returns were obtained with treatment T6 (Rs 3, 76,329.05) with B: C (3.84). Thus the present study revealed that vermicompost @ 3 t ha-1 + Azospirillum + PSB @ 5 kg ha-1 exhibited superiority with respect to growth, yield and quality of the crop and soil health over other organic manures and RDF.
Description
M.Sc Thesis submitted to SKUAST Kashmir
Keywords
Spinach bee, growth, yield, organic manures, manures, Vegetable Science