Vol. 12, Issue 10 (2023)

Author(s):
Ilal Khedkar, RK Sharma, SS Kushwah and Roshan Gallani

Abstract:
The present investigation entitled “Effect of varieties and nutrient levels on growth, quality and nutrient uptake of palak (Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis)” was conducted at Vegetable Research Field, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur (M.P.) during Rabi season, 2019-20 with two varieties V₁ (Pusa Bharati), V₂ (All Green) and 6 different nutrient levels (N₁- 00:00:00 NPK kg/ha, N₂- 40:30:20 NPK kg/ha, N₃- 60:40:30 NPK kg/ha, N₄- 80:50:40 NPK kg/ha, N₅- 100:60:50 NPK kg/ha and N₆ - 120:70:60 NPK kg/ha) with three replications. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized block design. Data from experiment revealed that among varieties V₁ (Pusa Bharati) found better for growth, quality and nutrient uptake of palak and recorded maximum fresh weight of plant (21.96 g, 22.80 g and 24.11 g) and maximum dry weight of plant (3.68 g, 3.89 g and 3.99 g) at 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd cuttings, respectively, maximum TSS content (7.70 °Brix), maximum iron content of leaf (13.36 mg/100 g) and maximum N (2.919%), P (0.703%) and K (3.208%) content in plant at harvest. While, maximum leaf moisture content i.e. 84.48%, 84.78% and 84.90%, was recorded at 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd cuttings, respectively, maximum nitrogen (209.40 kg/ha), phosphorus content in soil (16.34 kg/ha) and potassium (412.36 kg/ha) content in soil after harvest recorded in variety V₂ (All Green). Among nutrient levels, N₆ (120:70:60 NPK kg/ha) was recorded maximum fresh weight of plant (24.67 g, 24.68 g and 27.06 g), maximum dry weight of plant (4.70 g, 5.11 g and 5.20 g) at 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd cuttings, respectively, maximum TSS content (8.16 °Brix), maximum iron content of leaf (14.90 mg/100 g) and maximum N (3.122%), P (0.862%) and K (3.743%) content in plant at harvest. The maximum nitrogen (216.05 kg/ha), phosphorus content in soil (20.23 kg/ha) and potassium (418.42 kg/ha) content in soil after harvest was found with N₆ (120:70:60 NPK kg/ha).