Effects of conventional and organic fertilization on spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) growth, yield, vitamin C and nitrate concentration during two successive seasons

S. Citak and S. Sonmez

Abstract
Current experiment was laid out in order to compare different kinds of organic manure and chemical fertilizer application in growing spinach under the open-field conditions in two successive seasons.

Matador type spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.) was cultivated organically and conventionally and spinach growth, yield, vitamin C and nitrate concentrations were checked throughout two successive seasons (autumn and winter). Commercial chemical fertilizer was used as conventional application, and chicken manure (CM), farmyard manure (FM) and blood meal (BM) were used as organic manure applications as a single and as mixtures at different quantities by aiming to receive 150 kg N ha⁻¹ for each, totally 19 applications.

In general, autumn season gave the better results in terms of spinach growth, yield and resulted in lower nitrate concentration, whereas the vitamin C concentration was found to be higher in winter season. Reasonable applications to be recommended should be as follows with regard to the seasons; 3.5 ton ha⁻¹ CM and 0.6 ton ha⁻¹ BM + 0.85 ton ha⁻¹ CM + 4.0 ton ha⁻¹ FM for spinach growth; 3.5 ton ha⁻¹ CM and 5.0 FM + 1.2 CM + 0.4 BM applications for spinach yield; 5.0 ton ha⁻¹ FM + 2.5 ton ha⁻¹ CM and 15.0 ton ha⁻¹ FM for vitamin C and nitrate concentration in the autumn and the winter season, respectively.

In conclusion, FM and CM can be used effectively in growing organic spinach especially in the autumn season and can be transferred successfully into an asset.


Source
Scientia Horticulturae (2010) 126: 415-420
DOI: 10.1016/j.scienta.2010.08.010


Author Locations and Affiliations
Akdeniz University, Faculty of Agriculture, Soil Science Department, Antalya, Turkey


Posted May 2011