Effect of foliar application of Nano nutrients on Growth, Yield and Qualitative attributes in Spinach beet (Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis Hort. cv. Arka Anupama)

An experiment was carried out during December 2022 to February 2023 and November 2023 to January 2024 at Agricultural Experimental Farm, Baruipur, University of Calcutta, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal aimed to analyze the growth, qualitative and quantitative attributes of Spinach beet (Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis Hort. cv. Arka Anupama) utilizing selected macro and micro nano nutrients as foliar spray. The experiment comprised of 17 treatments and 3 replicates with the combinations C1 (Nano Urea: 3ml, Nano DAP: 5ml and Nano ZnO: 1ml) and C2 (Nano Urea: 5ml, Nano DAP: 10ml, Nano ZnO: 2ml) including control. Obtained results from pooled data indicated that most of the quantitative as well as qualitative traits were superior in treatment T8 {Nano DAP C2 + Nano ZnO C2 +(50%N+ 50%P+100% K of RDF as basal fertilizer)}. At 30 DAS the leaf area (77.13sq cm) was highest for control (100% RDF with NPK dose of 50:25:25kg/ha)) whereas the number of leaves (6.88) and chlorophyll (38.06) was highest in T8 while at 45 days after sowing significant increase in terms of plant height (28.87 cm), number of leaves (7.29), leaf length (21.78 cm) and leaf area (193.30 cm2 ) were registered followed by control. Marketable leaf yield (100.90q/ha) was registered high in T8 . Qualitative estimates viz. protein content (3.63g) and ascorbic acid(71.12 mg) was high in T8 while total carotenoid content (2.62mg per 100g of leaf) was high for treatment T7 {Nano DAP C2 +Nano ZnO C1 + (50%N+ 50%P+100% K of RDF as basal fertilizer)}. The least values for growth and yield parameters were observed in T3 {Nano Urea C1 +(50% N + 100% P + 100% K of RDF)}. Palak Spinach being a leafy vegetable with wider leaf surface area is a good model crop to study the infiltration of nano molecules and growth rate enhancement. Though our experiment perceives the benefits of foliar nano nutrients, further exploitation with respect to safety limits and efficacy under varied climatic factors needs to be worked out.