Quality of Organically Farmed Spinach

Abstract: Application of organic manures significantly influenced the ash, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc content, vitamin C, total carotenes and total antioxidant activity (TAOA) of spinach leaves compared to conventional fertilizers. Spinach crop was grown using organic manures and chemical fertilizers, and the effect of organic farming on nutritional profile, quality characteristics, toxic parameters was studied. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with fifteen treatments consisting of four organic manure treatments viz. vermicompost (VC), poultry manure (PM), farm yard manure (FYM), cow dung (CD) and recommended dose of chemical fertilizers i.e conventional farming as control. Organically and conventionally grown spinach were analysed for their nutrient composition.

Reference: Shankar, K. S.; Sumathi, S.; Shankar, M.; Usharani, K. (2009). Effect of organic farming on nutritional profile, quality characteristics and toxic parameters of spinach crop. Indian Journal of Dryland Agricultural Research and Development 24(2): 66-73.