Effect of different zinc solubilizing microbial cultures and zinc levels on soil chemical properties and quality of spinach

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2018 at Research farm, Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani to assess the response of spinach crop to various zinc solubilizers and graded levels of zinc on quality parameter and chemical properties of soil. Experiment consists of sixteen treatments in which four zinc solubilizers (Pseudomonas striata, Bacillus megaterium, Trichoderma viride and Control) and four graded levels of ZnSO4 (0 kg ZnSO4 ha-1, 10 kg ZnSO4 ha-1, 20 kg ZnSO4 ha-1 and 30 kg ZnSO4 ha-1) were used in factorial randomized block design. Seed treatment of spinach was done with zinc solubilizing microbial cultures and application of zinc in graded doses at the time of sowing with recommended dose of fertilizers. The quality attributes improved significantly with inoculation of Psuedomonas striata + 30 kg ZnSO4 ha-1. The pH, EC, organic carbon and calcium carbonate after harvest of spinach indicates non – significant interactive results.