Abstract:
Organic amendments have gained significant interest due to their potential to enhance soil fertility, increase soil organic carbon content, and boost crop yield and productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of farmyard manure, poultry manure, compost, and bio char on improving the growth and quality of spinach cultivated in pot culture during 2023. To assess the effects of these organic inputs, treatments included farmyard manure, poultry manure, compost, and bio char applied at rates of 0.5% and 1%, alongside a control. The pot experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replicates for each treatment. Measurements were taken on various growth indicators such as shoot and root lengths, fresh and dry weights of shoots and roots, and root-to-shoot ratio. Physiological parameters measured included relative water content, membrane stability index, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis and transpiration rates, as well as stomatal conductance. Biochemical assessments covered water-soluble carbohydrates, total and crude proteins, fats, organic acids, and enzymatic antioxidants including ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, dehydro ascorbate reductase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase, plus non-enzymatic antioxidants like ascorbate, glutathione, and phenolic compounds. Ionic and nutrient concentrations (sodium, chloride, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) were also analyzed. All collected data were statistically evaluated using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) via Statistix 10 software, and treatment means were compared by the least significant difference (LSD) test at a 0.05 significance level. Results indicated that among the organic amendments tested, 1% bio char was the most effective in promoting spinach growth and enhancing physiological attributes, closely followed by 1% compost. The findings offer valuable insights into the effectiveness of different organic amendments as practical and cost-effective strategies for improving spinach growth and quality, supporting organic farming and sustainable urban horticulture initiatives.
Page(s):
148-148
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: 1st International Conference on "Recent Advances in Green Biotechnology and Climate Resilience", September 15-16, 2025, Volume: 1, Issue: 1, Year: 2025
Keywords:
Growth
,
organic amendments
,
Appraisal
,
Spinach