Impact of Various Levels of Nitrogen and Phosphorus on Growth and Yield of Spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) under Conditions of Mansehra (Pakistan)

Abstract

This experiment was studied at PARC National Tea and High Value Crops Research Institute Shinkiari, Mansehra, (Pakistan) during the, 2016-17. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block design with split plot arrangement including treatments namely T1(0-0), T2(25-50 ), T3(50-60), T4(75-70), T5(100-80), T6(125-90) and T7(150-100) NP kg/ha. Data revealed that maximum day to first cut (45) was recorded in T1 (control plot) as compared to 41 days in T7 receiving (150-100) NP kg/ha. Maximum, plant height of (27.98 cm), leaf area (231.75cm2), leaf length (27.25cm) was recorded in T7 (150-100) NP kg/ha followed by plant height of (26.10 cm), leaf area(181.75cm 2), leaf length (25.00cm) was recorded in T6 plot provided (125-90 NP kg/ha) as compared to 15.98 cm plant height, leaf area (87.5cm2) and leaf length (16cm) in T1( without NP). Maximum no. of leaves was recorded in Treatment T6 (21) followed by T5 and T7 where 19 number of leaves/plant recorded. However, lowest no. of leaves (8) obtained in case of T1 (without NP). Maximum fresh yield of 23.15 tons/ha was recorded in T7, followed by 22.32 tons/ha in T6 and 16.80 tons/ha in T5 while T1 (Without NP fertilizer) produced the lowest spinach fresh leaves yield of 4.844 tons /ha. Nitrogen and phosphorus @ 125-90 and 150-100 NP kg/ha proved to be optimum dose for getting maximum production from spinach.