Effect of different mulching on spinach plant( 2nd trial)

This project , in first trial we are faced the following problems:

1. Planted spinach on the date 20/08/2022 and harvested spinach on the date 5/10/2022, it taken to long period for growing.
2. we faced problems in this project that is, the soil layer in the bed that was made for plantating spinach was very low.
3. Due to the depletion of the soil layer, the plants would fall down while watering the spinach.
4. In inorganic mulching , only six plants are emerged because the temperature was high and the soil layer was low.
5. Due to all these problems in this project, we are taking second trial of this project.

Need of project

Now a day population is increase day by day. So, for fulfilling the food and water need of this increasing population we need to conserve water as ell as have to increase the crop production. So, for reducing need  of water we can apply the mulching and can reduce the water through evaporation. Also, we have to check whether we can increase crop production by using mulching. So, we have decided to check the effect of plastic mulching, organic mulching and no mulch on the growth of spinach plants.

Objectives:

1. Effect of different mulching on spinach plant.

1)Organic mulching: Agricultural waste

2)Inorganic mulching: Black polyethene paper

3)Without mulching:

2. To calculated different types of parameters.

Before harvesting:

1. Water holding capacity of soil
2. Soil testing( NPK of the soil)
3. Moisture content of soil
4. Humidity
5. Temperature
6. Water quantity
7. Average height of plant
8. Average leaf size of plants
9. Average numbers of leaf’s

 After harvesting of spinach:

Leaf width ,Leaf length, Area of leaf, Numbers of leaf ,Wet mass, Yield.

Flow chart:

19/09/2022 To 25/09/2022

Firstly, to measure the area of the bed. Length of the bed is 3m and the width of bed is 2m. I do organic inorganic and without mulching so, I prepared the six square shaped box. And each square shaped box is 1m by 1m.

Area of bed = length*width

                    = 3 m * 2m

                   = 6m

Preparation of bed: For the preparation of bed collecting the black soil, and put into the beds. The layer soil adding in the bed is 4 to 5 inches.  And put the bricks outside the bed. After that to make levelled of bed.

After the preparation of bed to calculated how many seeds required for each box. I sowed seeds in each box is 25, so total seeds required for the bed is150.

Plantation of seeds:

sowing seeds in each square shaped box is 25. The row to row and column to column distance is 15 cm.

Table shows that the parameters were plantation of spinach is done.

Sr. no	Date	Humidity	Temperature	Types of mulching	Plantating seeds	Quantity of water per day
1	24/09/2022	70.5 %	30.5	Organic mulching	50 seeds	14 liters
2	25/09/2022	58.5%	31.5 Outside- 25	Inorganic mulching	50seeds	8 liters
	–	–	–	Without mulching	50 seeds	–

26/09/2022 To 2/10/2022

Spinach sprouted within three days after plantating. i plantated 150 seeds in total bed out of then 140 seeds sprouted in total bed , 50 spinach seeds were planted in organic mulching and 46 seeds germinated in this week. in inorganic mulching were 50 seeds are planted out them 48 seeds germinated in this week, also in without mulching 50 seeds planted out them 46 seeds are germinated.

In this week the parameters like height of plant , humidity , temperature, leaf size, quantity of water ,NPK of the soil, water holding capacity of soil are mentioned in the table below.

Observations after 7 days

Sr. no	Date	Humidity	Temperature	Types of mulching	Average height of plant	Average leaf size of plants	Water quantity per day	Water holding capacity of soil	NPK of the soil	Moisture content of the soil
1	26/09/2022	73.3 %	24.2 Outside-	Organic mulching	3.1 cm	1.4 cm	–		N-0.014 kg/ m sq P-0.0014 K-0.03 kg/ m sq	35%
3	27/09/2022	72.1%	27.1 Outside- 24				7 liters
	28/09/2022	70.5%	27.7	Inorganic mulching	2.9 cm	1.6 cm	–	79%	N-0.014 kg/ m sq P-0.0014 K-0.03 kg/ m sq	38%
4	29/09/2022	66.3%	30.5 Outside- 25				15liters
5	30/09/2022	67.3%	31 Outside- 27	Without mulching	3.6 cm	1.5 cm	–		N-0.014 kg/ m sq P-0.0014 K-0.03 kg/ m sq	31%
6	1/09/2022	70%	30				15 liters

Result of 1^st week:

1. In first week, the height of plants in without mulching is higher as compared to plants in organic mulching and plastic mulching.
2. Leaf length is higher in Organic and plastic mulching as compared to without mulching.
3. All the three methods of mulching required 4.6 liters of average water in the first week.
4. Organic and Plastic mulching had better water holding capacity compared to without mulching.
5. Plastic and without mulching, moisture content is lower as compared to organic mulching,
6. Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium in the soil were checked during 1^st week it was found to be the same in all three methods of mulching  

03/10/2022 To 09/10/2022

Observations after 14 days.

Sr. no	Date	Humidity	Temperature	Types of mulching	Average height of plants	Average leaf size of plants	Water quantity per day	Water holding capacity of soil	NPK of the soil	Moisture content of the soil
1	3/10/2022	70.9	31.5 Outside- 25	Organic mulching	3.5 cm	3.6 cm	15 liters	70%	N-0.014kg/m sq P- 0.0014 kg/ m sq K- 0.03 kg/ m sq	33.3%
2	4/10/2022	61.1	29.2 Outside- 26				7 liters
3	5/10/2022	60.3	29.6	Inorganic mulching	4.9 cm	2.6 cm	–	75%	N-0.028 kg/ m sq P-0.0014 kg/ m sq K-0.03 kg/ m sq	38.8%
4	6/10/2022	68.8	30.1 Outside- 27				12 liters
5	7/10/2022	62.0	29 Outside- 27	Without mulching	5.1 cm	2.1 cm	–	74%	N-0.014kg/ m sq P- 0.0007 kg/ m sq K- 3%	25%
6	8/10/2022	63.4	25.2	–	–	–	12 liters	–	–

Result of 2^nd week:

1. In the second week, the height of the plants in without mulching was the highest as compared to plants with organic and plastic mulching.
2. The length of the leaves in organic mulching is greater than plastic and without mulching.
3. All the three methods of mulching required 3.7 liters of average water in the 2^nd week.
4.  Water holding capacity of plastic mulching is highest as compared to organic and without mulching.
5. The moisture content in plastic mulching is the highest compared to other two methods of mulching.
6. In this week in organic mulching the nitrogen is 0.014 kg/m sq, phosphorus is 0.0014, and potassium is 0.03 kg/ m sq. In plastic mulching nitrogen is 0.028kg/ m sq, phosphorus is 0.0014 kg/ m sq and potassium is 0.03kg/ m sq. Without mulching nitrogen is 0.014 kg/ m sq, phosphorus is 0.0007kg/ m sq and potassium is 0.03kg/ m sq.

Condition of plants after 14 days

10/10/2022 To 15/10/2022

Observations after 21 days

Sr.No	Date	Humidity	Temperature	Types of mulching	Average height of plants	Average leaf size of plants	Average no. of leaf	Quantity of water per day	Water holding capacity of soil	NPK of the soil	Moisture content
1	10/10/2022	61.6%	31 Outside- 27	Organic mulching	5.5 cm	3 cm	8.4 cm	8 liters	70%	N-0.014kg/ m sq P- 0.0007 kg/ m sq K- 3%	28%
2	11/10/2022	80%	21 Outside- 27
3	12/10/2022	67.8%	28 Outside- 24	Inorganic mulching	6.9 cm	3 cm	15 cm	15 liters	72%	N-0.028 kg/ m sq% P-0.0021 kg/ sq K-0.03kg/ m sq	20%
4	13/10/2022	68%	25 Outside- 24
5	14/10/2022	67.7%	31 Outside-25	Without mulching	7.4 cm	6.6 cm	6.3 cm	9 liters	69%	N- 0.014kg/ m sq P-0.0028kg/ m sq K-0.03 kg / m sq	25%
6	15/10/2022	66.6	30 Outside- 26					2 liters

Result of 3^rd week:

1. The height of plants in without mulching was highest in the third week compared to plants with organic and plastic mulching.
2. The leaf length of without mulching is the highest in without mulching as compared to without two mulching methods.
3.  In this week Organic mulching required 3.1 liters of average water quantity, plastic mulching required 3.3 liters average water quantity, without mulching required 4.1 liters average water quantity.
4. Water holding capacity is highest in plastic mulching as compared two methods of mulching.
5. The moisture content in organic mulching is higher in organic mulching as compared two other two methods of mulching.
6. In this week in organic mulching the nitrogen is 0.028kg/m sq, phosphorus is 0.0014kg/ m sq, and potassium is 0.03kg/m sq. In plastic mulching nitrogen is 0.028kg/m sq, phosphorus is 0.0021kg/ m sq, and potassium is 0.03kg/ m sq. Without mulching nitrogen is 0.014kg/m sq, phosphorus is 0.0028kg/ m sq and potassium is 0.03kg/ m sq.

After 21days

17/10/2022 To 22/10/2022

Observations after 28 days

Sr.No	Date	Humidity	Temperature	Types of mulch	Average height of plants	Average leaf size	Average no of leaf	Water quantity per day	Water holding capacity of soil	NPK of the soil	Moisture content
1	17/10/2022	73.5%	30.2 Outside- 28	Organic mulch	12.7 cm	9.5 cm	10.3	10 liters	65%	N-0.014kg/m sq P-0.0014kg/m sq  K- 0.03 kg/m sq	26%
2	18/10/2022		21.2 Outside- 26					–
3	19/10/2022	64.2%	28 Outside- 25	Inorganic mulch	11.5 cm	8.4 cm	15.9	9 liters	65%	N-0.014kg/ m sq  P- 0.0021kg/ m sq K-0.03kg/ m sq	20%
4	20/10/2022	64	25 Outside- 27					–
5	21/10/2022	65.2%	25 Outside-26	Without mulch	13.8 cm	6.8cm	9	7 liters	65%	N-0.014kg/m sq  P- 0.0021kg/ m sq % K- 0.025-0.03kg/ m sq	25%
6	22/10/2022							–

Result of 4^th week:

1. In the 4^th week, the height of plants without mulching was highest compared to height of plants in organic and plastic mulching plants.
2. The length of leaves in organic mulching is higher than plastic and without mulching plants leaves.
3. In this week Organic mulching required 2.1 liters of average water quantity, plastic mulching required 2.8 liters average water quantity, without mulching required 3.8 liters average water quantity.
4. Water holding capacity is same in this week all these three methods of mulching.
5. The moisture content in organic mulching is higher in organic mulching as compared two other two methods of mulching.
6. In this week in organic mulching the nitrogen is 0.014kg/m sq, phosphorus is 0.0014kg/ m sq, and potassium is 0.03kg/m sq. In plastic mulching nitrogen is 0.014kg/m sq, phosphorus is 0.0021kg/m sq, and potassium is 0.03kg/ m sq. Without mulching nitrogen is 0.014kg/m sq, phosphorus is 0.0021kg/ m sq and potassium is 0.025 -0.03 kg/ m sq.

After 28 days

24/10/2022 To 30/10/2022

Observations after 35 days

Sr.No	Date	Humidity	Temperature	Types of mulching	Average height of plants	Average leaf size of plants	Average no of leaf	Water quantity per day	Water holding capacity of soil	NPK of the soil	Moisture content
1	24/10/2022			Organic mulching	21.5 cm	11.2 cm	13.8	7 liters	65%	N-0.014kg/m sq P-0.0014 kg/ m sq  K-0.03kg/ m sq	38.5%
2	25/10/2022	66.6%	24 Outside- 25					–
3	26/10/2022	75%	25 Outside- 23	Inorganic mulching	20.9 cm	10.1 cm	17.4	8 liters	60%	N-0.014kg/ m sq  P-0.0021 kg/ m sq K- 0.03 kg/ m sq	31.5%
4	27/10/2022	78%	25 Outside- 21					–
5	28/10/2022	69%	28.1 Outside- 29	Without mulching	16.1 cm	7.3 cm	11	–	75%	N-0.014 kg/m sq P-0.0021 kg/ m sq K- 0.025-0.03 kg/ m sq	20.48%
6	29/10/2022	58.3%	24 Outside-27					8 liters

Result in 5^th week:

1. In fifth week, plants height in organic mulching is high as compare to other two methods of mulching.
2. Leaf length is higher in organic mulching.
3. In this week Organic mulching required 2 liters of average water quantity, plastic mulching required 2.5 liters average water quantity, without mulching required 3.5 liters average water quantity.
4. Water holding capacity is higher in without mulching as compared to organic and plastic mulching
5. The moisture content in organic mulching is higher as compared two other two methods of mulching.
6. In this week in organic mulching the nitrogen is 0.014kg/m sq, phosphorus is 0.0014kg/m sq, and potassium is 0.03kg/ m sq. In plastic mulching nitrogen is 0.014kg/m sq, phosphorus is 0.0021kg/ m sq, and potassium is 0.03kg/m sq. Without mulching nitrogen is 0.014kg/m sq, phosphorus is 0.0021kg/m sq and potassium is 0.25-0.03kg/sq m.

31/10/2022 To 06/11/2022

Observations after 6th week:

Sr.no	Date	Humidity	Temperature	Types of mulching	Average height of plant	Average leaf size of leaf	Quantity of water per day	Water holding capacity	NPK in the soil	Moisture content in the soil
1	31/10/2022	60%	25	Organic mulching	30.7 cm	16.4 cm	8 liters	80%	N-0.042 kg/m sq P-0.0021kg/ m sq K- 0.03 kg/ m sq	35.5%
2	01/11/2022	80%	22			–
3	02/11/2022	88.4%	26	Inorganic mulching	26.7 cm	14.4 cm	6 liters	80%	N- 0.042 kg/m sq P-0.0021kg/m sq   K- 0.03 kg/ m sq	31.4%
4	03/11/2022	82%	28			–
5	04/11/2022	84%	26	Without mulching			–	60%	N- 0.042 kg/ m sq P-0.0028 kg/ m sq K- 0.025- 0.03 kg/ m sq	20.5%
6	05/11/2022	79%	27	22 cm	10.5 cm		6 liters

Result in 6^th week:

1. In the last week, the height of the plants in organic mulching is highest.
2. The length of the leaves in organic mulching is highest.
3. In this week Organic mulching required 1.8 liters of average water quantity, plastic mulching required 1.8 liters average water quantity, without mulching required 2.7 liters average water quantity.
4. Water holding capacity is higher in organic and plastic mulching as compared to without mulching
5. The moisture content in organic mulching is higher as compared two other two methods of mulching.
6. In this week in organic mulching the nitrogen is 0.042kg/m sq, phosphorus is 0.0021kg/m sq, and potassium is 0.03kg/m sq. In plastic mulching nitrogen is 0.042kg/m sq, phosphorus is 0.0021kg/m sq and potassium is 0.03kg/m sq. Without mulching nitrogen is 0.014kg/ m sq, phosphorus is 0.0028kg/m sq and potassium is 0.025-0.03kg/m sq.

07/11/2022 To 13/10/2022

Harvesting of spinach:

Parameters after harvesting of spinach :

Sr. No	Types of mulch	Average water quantity	Average height of plants	Average leaf length	Average leaf area of leaves (sq.cm)	Average No of leaves	Average leaf width	Weight
1	Organic mulch	2.7 liters	12.9 cm	9.6 cm	115.7 sq.cm	12.4 cm	7.7 cm	1.8 kg
2	Inorganic mulch	3 liters	12.3 cm	6.6 cm	116.3 sq.cm	18.1 cm	8.4 cm	1.5 kg
3	Without mulch	3.8 liters	11.3 cm	5.8 cm	38.0 sq.cm	9.3 cm	5.1 cm	657 gm

Conclusion:

1. In comparison of the organic, plastic and no mulching methods on the weight basis of harvesting of spinach, spinach is grown very good in organic mulching.
2. Looking at the total average over the above six weeks, organic mulching required lowest amount of water (48.15% less compare to no mulch), plastic mulching required slightly (33.33) % higher than organic and no mulching required (5.2%) significantly more water.
3. When the height of spinach plants was measured in after harvesting of spinach, it was observed that the average height of spinach plants under organic mulching was higher as compared to plants in plastic and without mulching.
4. Average leaf length is higher in organic mulching than other two methods of mulching.
5. Average leaf area is higher in organic mulching.
6. Average leaf width is higher in plastic mulching as compared to other two methods.
7. Numbers of leaves are highest in plastic mulching.