Standardisation of growth media and organic nutrient schedule for container cultivation of spinach Beet (Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis)

Abstract

The treatments consisted of five growth media M1- soil: sand: Farm yard manure (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) and M5 - soil: suchitha :FYM(1:1:1) and nutrient levels were N1 - 100% of 80:40:80 kg NPK ha-1, N2 - N1 + 50% N top dressed in three splits, N3- N1+ 100% N top dressed in three splits. M5 registered superior values for leaf yield per harvest, leaf area index and the number of leaves harvested per plant was superior in M2 and was on par with M5 and M1. N1 recorded the highest number of leaves harvested per plant, Leaf Area Index. The interaction m5n1 was found significantly superior with respect to leaf yield per harvest and LAI. For leaf yield per plant, m5n1 recorded higher value and was on par with m2n1. Hence the growth media M5 and organic nutrient schedule N1 can be suggested for obtaining higher yield.