Evaluation of water spinach (Ipomea aquatica Forsskal) genotypes under vertical farming (wall culture)

Abstract

An investigation to evaluate different genotypes of water spinach under vertical farming (wall culture) was conducted during kharif 2018 on office building wall at Centre of Excellence on Protected Cultivation and Precision Farming, I.G.K.V., Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The 18 genotypes viz. IGWS-1, IGWS-2, IGWS-3, IGWS- 4, IGWS-5, IGWS-6, IGWS-7, IGWS-8, IGWS-9, IGWS-10, IGWS-11, IGWS-14, IGWS-15, IGWS-16, IGWS-18, IGWS-19, IGWS-20 and IGWS-25 which were collected from different areas of Chhattisgarh were selected for evaluation under wall culture for various parameters like vine length, vine weight, internodal length, number of nodes per vine, leaf length, leaf width, petiole length, dry matter percentage, moisture percentage, fresh weight of leaves, dry weight of leaves, leaf: vine ratio, number of cuttings per month and yield in kg/m2. The genotypes were also studied for their characteristic features like vine colour, leaf outline, leaf lobe type, number of leaf lobes, shape of central lobes, mature leaf size and mature leaf colour. Studies regarding cost economics of the genotypes were also carried out to find out the most suitable genotypes for wall culture. Organoleptic observations were recorded for each genotype separately as green leafy salad, cooked bhanji and as pakora with gram flour to find out genotype which is excellent in terms of taste. The experiment was carried out on wall frame with 216 panels. 18 genotypes were distributed randomly in 4 replications which consisted of 3 pots and total of 6 plants in each. From the results of the experiment it can be concluded that vertical farming is an economically feasible option for cultivation of leafy vegetables like water spinach, IGWS-2 proved to be the most suitable genotype for cultivation under wall culture since it has high yield attributing characters, attractive in appearance and also excellent in organoleptic characteristics. The produce was free from any contamination from liver fluke which was reported many times in Chhattisgarh due to cultivation of water spinach in marsh and swampy areas.