Effect of FYM, Zn and Trichoderma Spp. on growth, yield and quality of spinach beet grown in Cd contaminated soil

Abstract

An investigation entitled “Effect of FYM, Zn and Trichoderma spp. applications on growth, yield and cadmium uptake by spinach beet grown in Cd contaminated soil” was carried out during rabi 2016 at Department of Natural Resources Management, ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari. The present pot trial consisting of 18 treatment combinations involving three levels of FYM (F0: control, F1: 10 t ha-1 and F2: 20 t ha-1), two levels of Trichoderma (T0:- Control, T1:- 2 kg ha-1) and three levels of Zinc (Z0: control, Z1: 2.5 mg kg-1 and Z2: 5.0 mg kg-1) using Factorial Complete Randomize Design with three repetitions. The experimental results revealed that plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, fresh weight of leaves during 1st, 2nd and 3rd cuttings and dry weight of root after 3rd cutting were significantly highest with treatment F2 over F1 and F0 with a tune value of 20.14, 22.01 and 18.33 cm; 5.68, 6.04 and 7.33; 205.58, 201.52 and 230.71 cm2; 122.79, 133.86 and 106.13 g pot-1; 9.82 g pot-1respectively. Similar trends in results with respect to growth and yield were found with application of Zn @ 5 mg kg-1(Z2) over Z1 and Z0. However, fresh weight of leaves was found significantly highest with application of Trichoderma spp. @ 2 kg ha-1 over T0. The interaction effects F x Z during 1st and 2nd cutting in plant height and F x Z during 2nd cutting in leaf area was found significant. As per interaction effect F x Z is concerned, leaf area was significantly affected due to F1Z2 with a tune value of 220.12 cm2, during 2nd cutting over rest of the F x Z combinations but statistically remain at par with F1Z1, F2Z1, F0Z2 and F2Z2. Significantly the highest content of fiber, nitrate and folic acid in leaves were found due to application of FYM @ 20 t ha-1 during the 1st, 2nd and 3rd cutting of spinach beet, however, significantly highest nitrate and folic acid content was recorded due to application of Zn @ 5.0 mg kg-1 during 1st, 2nd and 3rd cutting with a tune value of 34.72, 35.75, 35.41 ppm and 178.69, 179.21, 176.48 μg 100g-1, respectively.