Comparison of the Combined Effect of Intra Row Spacing and Harvesting Interval on Yield and Yield Components of Swiss Chard (Beta vulgaris L.)

Zenebe Woldu

doi:10.7176/jbah/9-19-06

Abstract

The study was carried out to evaluate the combined effect of intra-row spacing and harvesting interval (frequency) on yield and yield components of Swiss chard ( Beta vulgaris L.), variety Ford Hook Giant. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with a 3*3 factorial arrangement in three replications. The factor levels were: 25cm, 30cm and 35 cm for intra-row spacing and 6, 12 and 18 days for harvesting interval. Statistically significant differences were observed among the treatment combinations on their effects on all parameters evaluated (yield, leaf length, leaf number and plant height) except leaf width. The highest yield (42.51 t/ha) and yield components (32.0cm average leaf length, 8.17 average leaf number/plant, 17.67cm average leaf width and 43.33cm average plant height) were obtained from the combined effects of 35cm intra-row spacing and 18 days harvesting interval. Conversely, the lowest measurements of the same parameters were recorded from the combined effects of 25cm intra-row spacing and 6 days harvesting interval. Growers under Wolkite conditions are therefore recommended to grow Swiss chard in a similar way. Keywords: Swiss chard, intra-row spacing, harvesting interval, yield and yield components. DOI : 10.7176/JBAH/9-19-06 Publication date :October 31 st 2019

Highlights

Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.), which is sometimes known as spinach beet, sliver beet, seakale beet, chard leaf beet and spinach in various parts of the world, belongs to the family Chenopodaceae (Swiader et al, 1992 and Smith et al, 2001)
Too high or low plant population density may result in lower yields and quality while improper spacing can cause pest and disease incidence, which again leads to the same problem (Seid et al, 2013, and Lopez et al, 2005)
(23.23 t/ha) was harvested from the lowest intra-row spacing of 25cm when combined with the lowest harvesting interval of six days

Summary

Introduction

Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.), which is sometimes known as spinach beet, sliver beet, seakale beet, chard leaf beet and spinach in various parts of the world, belongs to the family Chenopodaceae (Swiader et al, 1992 and Smith et al, 2001). It is a highly nutritious leafy biennial vegetable crop frequently grown as fore-crop or after-crop in crop rotation system. Plant spacing (population density) plays an important role in optimizing the yield of leafy vegetables including Swiss chard. Jenet et al (2008) reported that Swiss-chard yield and quality was influenced by different combinations of harvesting intervals and spacing

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Results

Conclusion