Effect of Macronutrient Levels on Growth and Development of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

Abstract

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is a nutrient-dense leafy vegetable of global importance, valued for its health-promoting properties. However, its growth and productivity are often constrained by inadequate nutrient management practices. To address this, a study was conducted from November 2022 to February 2023 at the Nursery Department of Horticulture, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, with the objective of evaluating the response of spinach growth to varying levels of macronutrients. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. Two spinach varieties, namely Sindhi spinach and English spinach, were cultivated in pots, and macronutrients were applied as treatments, including N₁ = Control N₂ = NPK (2g L^-1) N₃ = Calcium Nitrate (0.5g L^-1 and N₄ = NPK (2g L^-1) + Calcium Nitrate (0.5g L^-1). The results of the present study revealed that English spinach consistently outperformed Sindhi spinach across growth parameters, while the combined application of NPK and calcium nitrate produced the most favorable outcomes. Overall, the study demonstrates that integrated nutrient management, particularly NPK with calcium nitrate, significantly enhances spinach growth and variety performance.