Growth and Performance of Baby Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Grown under Different Organic Fertilizers

Abstract

Spinacia oleracea L. (baby spinach) is a relatively new leaf vegetable crop in Zimbabwe, so the agronomic performance is unknown. A 3-year field experiment was done at the Seke Teachers College research farm, Zimbabwe. The research evaluated the response of baby spinach to different types of organic manure sources, days after fertilizer application (DAS), and growing season. A 3 × 2 factorial in a completely randomized block design (CRBD) with three replicates was used. Baby spinach cultivar, Dash, was grown on three organic manures (goat applied at 14.894 t ha−1, cattle at 17.789 t ha−1, and poultry at 13.807 t ha−1) in winter 2018, 2019, and 2020. Compound D (7% N, 14% P, and 7% K) at 300 kg ha−1 was included as a control. Crop growth rate, leaf area index, leaf area ratio, net assimilation rate, total dry matter production, and harvest index were measured on 7-day intervals from 14 to 35 days after transplanting. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare the effects of the treatments on the baby spinach growth parameters was done. Significant p < 0. 05 interactions on the type of organic manure × DAS × growing season were observed on all the measured response variables. There were varied effects of organic manures on growth performance at 14 to 28 DAS where poultry manure had higher growth performance compared to cattle and goat manure. Generally, there was a significant p < 0. 05 gradual increase in growth from 14 to 35 DAS on the organic manures and a decline from day 28 to 35 DAS under compound D. Low quality (large C/N) cattle and goat manure had lower effects than high quality (small C/N) poultry manure at early growth stages of the baby spinach. Unlike compound D, organic manure continuously supplied adequate nutrients throughout the life cycle (35 DAS) of the baby spinach.

Assessment of Profit Efficiency for Spinach Production under Small-Scale Irrigated Agriculture in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

“…Its affordability and richness in nutrients play a vital role in human's dietary diversity. Spinach displays a high nutrient content, and has relatively high levels of bioactive compounds, such as vitamins A and C, and minerals that are vital for human health [2]. How the spinach is consumed and stored depends on each individual.…”

“…None of these studies focused on analyzing the profit efficiency of spinach production in a smallholder farming system. The limitations of previous studies lie in the fact that they did not account for factors influencing the profitability and profit efficiency of smallholder farmers, and only assumed technical efficiency in terms of input use and production technology [2,16]. As a result, smallholder farmers have low productivity, resulting in very low incomes, because they rely on obsolute techniques for production.…”

Effect of three organic fertilizers treatments on sensory evaluations of baby spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

“…The C, N, the Olsen extractable P, exchangeable ammonium and nitrate in both the organic manures (poultry, goat and cattle) and soil were analysed as described by Parwada et al (2020).…”

“…The crop is relatively new and has proved increasingly popular in recent years due to its nutritional value (Hedges & Lister, 2007). The S. oleracea is high in vitamin C, as well as other minor elements such as magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and selenium (Se) (Parwada et al, 2020). The production practices, such as fertilization, deficit irrigation, and postharvest storage conditions and duration (Mudau et al, 2006), have an impact on the bioactive compounds as well as on the taste of leaf vegetables (Turkmen et al, 2005).…”

“…The N is essential for crop growth and development where limiting levels of the available N result in stunted growth and leaf chlorosis in plants due to reduced chlorophyll pigmentation (Sainju et al, 2003). The N requirement for the baby spinach varies from 21 to 45 kg ha −1 , 63 to 138 kg ha −1 P, and 22 to 45 kg ha −1 K (Parwada et al, 2020). High levels of N (>45 kg ha −1 ) may increase vegetative growth in the S. oleracea causing light starvation in some parts of the plant leading to a modification in the chemical composition of such parts (Lee & Kader, 2000).…”