2024, Vol. 7, Special Issue 7

author(s)
C Vennila, T Muthuramalingam, A Shanmuga Sundaram, K Thilak Pon Jawahar and S Meenakshi Sundaram

abstract
Evaluation on the effect of organic biostimulants application on the performance of spinach was experimented. The organic biostimulants such as panchagavya and jeevamrutha prepared at the farm with products of native cattle breed of India, Gir was used for application. The treatments are T₁: Without nutrients, T₂: Recommended dose of nutrients, T₃: 100 % recommended dose of nutrients + Nano urea spray, T₄: 75% recommended dose of nutrients + Nano urea spray, T₅: 100% recommended dose of nutrients + Panchagavya spray, T₆: 75% recommended dose of nutrients + Panchagavya spray, T₇: 100% recommended dose of nutrients + Jeevamrutha spray, T₈: 75% recommended dose of nutrients + Jeevamrutha spray and replicated thrice in randomized block design. The data observed for the first and ratoon crop of spinach were interpreted for obtaining conclusions. The results indicated that maximum increase in growth parameters in first crop and ratoon crops of spinach such as plant height, leaf length, leaf breadth, number of leaves per plant, were obtained with the application of 100%RDF + Jeevamrutha spray (T₇). Shoot base diameter of spinach was not influenced by the application of nutrients. The root shoot ratio was found higher with the application of 100% recommended dose of nutrients + Jeevamrutha spray (T₇), but on par with the application of 100% recommended dose of nutrients + Panchagavya spray (T₅) followed by the application of 100% recommended dose of nutrients + Nano urea spray (T₃) at first harvest and ratoon harvest. The physiological parameters such as leaf volume, leaf density, specific leaf area, leaf thickness, leaf area, relative water content and leaf weight were enhanced with the application of 100% recommended dose of nutrients + Jeevamrutha spray. The maximum shoot weight of 880.91 and 764.44 g, shoot dry weight (413.01 g and 370.52 g), root fresh weight (29.42 g and 25.08 g) and root dry weight (6.20g and 6.22 g) was obtained with the application of 100% recommended dose of nutrients + Jeevamrutha spray (T₇) but on par with the application of 100% recommended dose of nutrients + Panchagavya spray (T₅) followed by the application of 100% recommended dose of nutrients + Nano urea spray (T₃) at first harvest and ratoon harvest od spinach respectively. The increase in yield per hectare is the maximum with T₇ resulting an increase by 122 % and 105% during the harvest of first and ratoon crop of spinach. The increase in percentage of nitrogen content was 20.61 during both the harvests, phosphorous was 26.31 and 19.64 percent and the potassium content was 17.08 and 19.0 % with the application of 100% recommended dose of nutrients along with Jeevamrutha spray (T₇) was compared to control during the first and ratoon harvests respectively. However, the quantity of nitrate accumulated increased with the application of recommended dose of nutrients along with the application of stimulants such as nano urea, panchagavya and jeevamrutha over the reduced quantity of nutrients and stimulants but found within the permissible limits.