Effect of Sowing Dates and Row Spacing on the Yield of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

Abstract

The differences in sowing dates and row spacing were highly significant for plant stand. Maximum plant stand (53.77 plants/m2) was recorded in the plots sown on 20th October and the wider row spacing of 45 cm produced the maximum plant stand of 53.88 plants/m2. Significantly, 20th October crop gave the maximum plant height of 24.58 cm but row spacing did not effect statistically on the plant height. Sowing dates and row spacing did not show any significant effect on the number of leaves per plant. However, maximum number of leaves 10.98/plant was obtained in the plots sown on 20th October, broadcast produced the maximum 11.02 number of leaves per plant. Fresh and dried foliage yield was significantly affected by the various row spacing but was not affected by different sowing dates and their interaction. However, plots sown on 20th October gave the highest fresh yield of 1753.33 Kg/ha while broadcast led by obtaining the maximum fresh foliage yield of 1962.78 Kg/ha. Almost the similar trend was observed in the dried foliage yield. The differences among sowing dates were not whereas row spacing were highly significant in terms of total fresh yield. Plots sown on 20th October produced significantly the highest yield of 6249 Kg/ha as compared to other sowing dates while broadcast again gained the maximum total fresh yield of 6474 Kg/ha.