INTEGRATED APPLICATION OF ORGANIC AMENDMENTS AND MYCORRHIZAE IMPLEMENTATION FOR SPINACH (SPINACIA OLERACEA) GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

For plants and other species alike, phosphorus (P) is the second most essential macronutrient. However, it becomes unavailable to plants because of its fixation with soil collisions, and hence cannot enter the food chain. In a pot trial, the impact of mycorrhizae and various organic amendments on P uptake and plant growth of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) was assessed. Farmyard manure (FYM), biogas slurry (BGS), and compost were used as organic amendments at a rate of 1.5% w/w in each treatment, along with mycorrhizae. Mycorrhizae and organic amendments applied together were found to boost plant growth and increase P uptake. FYM + mycorrhizae and BGS + mycorrhizae combinations resulted in increased root length, shoot height, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight and leaf area. BGS + mycorrhizae combinations also showed increased P absorption, leading to higher photosynthetic activity and biomass. Mycorrhizae and organic amendments were shown to increase P uptake by as much as 42.25% and plant growth by 57.39%. We concluded that using this strategy in the field can be an economically viable option while also lowering the potential for negative environmental effects caused by the overuse of chemical fertilizers