Quality improvement of palak (Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis Hort.) through organic manures

Abstract

Field experiments were conducted in the farmer’s field located at Sandaya Koundampalayam in Thondammutur block of Coimbatore district during October 2015 - January 2016 and February 2016 - April, 2016 to study the effect of organic manuring practices for improving the quality of Palak (Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis Hort.) The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with ten treatments and three replications. Among the different treatment combinations the organic treatments of soil application with vermicompost (4t/ha) + liquid nitrogen biofertilizer (Azospirullum 200ml/acre) + foliar spray of vermiwash (3%) shown the significant improvement in quality parameters with highest ascorbic acid content (64.35 mg/100g), total phenolic content (23.01mg/100g), total carotenoids (3.96 mg/100g), calcium content (344.77 mg/100g), iron content (15.8 mg/100g), total antioxidant activity (3.43 mg/100g) and shelf life (77.12 mg/ 100g) over the inorganic treatment of soil application with straight fertilizers at 100% RDF(T10). The oxalate content and nitrate content were found to be lowest in all the organic treatments compared to inorganic treatment (T10).