IMPROVING THE GROWTH, PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY OF SPINACH PLANTS (Spinacia oleracea L.)

Abstract

This study was carried out at Ghazala Experimental Farm, Faculty of Technology and Development, Zagazig Univ., Egypt during winter seasons of 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 to study the effect of N-biofertilizer (Biogein) and NPK mineral fertilizers as soil addition integrated with foliar spray of PK (Agrosol) and some micronutrients (Sterene) on growth, yield and leaves quality of spinach cv. Dash (F1 hybrid). The interaction between seeds inoculation with biogein and fertilizing plants with 50% RR (recommended rate) of NPK as soil application and spraying with agrosol at 2 g/l and sterene at 10 ml/l, increased plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf area and total yield/fad., as well as total chlorophyll in leaf tissues, Vitam. C, N, K and Fe contents in leaves, meanwhile, it decreased oxalate contents in leaves. Moreover, this treatment recorded increases in total yield which valued about 56.83 and 49.67% than the treatment with 100% RR of NPK without biogein (control) in the 1st and 2nd seasons, respectively. As for leaves content of nitrate, the interaction between biogein and 50% RR of NPK and sprayed plants with agrosol at 2 g/l recorded the lowest values. It could be concluded that the use of biogein as source of N-biofertilizer and foliar spray of phosphorus and potassium (Agrosol) with 50% RR of NPK mineral fertilizers may save the cost of spinach production and decrease the pollution of the environment, as well as produce healthy food, for human health.