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.

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collection of soil
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collection of soil
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Collection of soil.
levelling of bed
Levelling 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.

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Sowing of seeds in organic, inorganic and without mulching

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

Sr. noDateHumidityTemperatureTypes of mulchingPlantating seedsQuantity of water per day
124/09/202270.5 %30.5Organic mulching50 seeds14 liters
225/09/202258.5%31.5
Outside- 25
Inorganic mulching50seeds8 liters
Without mulching50 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. noDateHumidityTemperatureTypes of mulchingAverage height of plantAverage leaf size of plantsWater quantity per dayWater holding capacity of soilNPK of the soilMoisture content of the soil
126/09/202273.3 %24.2
Outside-
Organic mulching3.1 cm1.4 cmN-0.014 kg/ m sq
P-0.0014
K-0.03 kg/ m sq
35%
327/09/202272.1%27.1
Outside- 24
7 liters
28/09/202270.5%27.7Inorganic mulching2.9 cm1.6 cm79%N-0.014 kg/ m sq
P-0.0014
K-0.03 kg/ m sq
38%
429/09/202266.3%30.5
Outside- 25
15liters
530/09/202267.3%31
Outside- 27
Without mulching3.6 cm1.5 cmN-0.014 kg/ m sq
P-0.0014
K-0.03 kg/ m sq
31%
61/09/202270%3015 liters

Result of 1st 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 1st week it was found to be the same in all three methods of mulching  
Organic mulching
Inorganic mulching
Without mulching

03/10/2022 To 09/10/2022

Observations after 14 days.

Sr. noDateHumidityTemperatureTypes of mulchingAverage height of plantsAverage leaf size of plantsWater quantity per dayWater holding capacity of soilNPK of the soilMoisture content of the soil
13/10/202270.931.5
Outside- 25
Organic mulching3.5 cm3.6 cm15 liters70%N-0.014kg/m sq
P- 0.0014 kg/ m sq
K- 0.03 kg/ m sq
33.3%
24/10/202261.129.2
Outside- 26
7 liters
35/10/202260.329.6Inorganic mulching4.9 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%
46/10/202268.830.1
Outside- 27
12 liters
57/10/202262.029
Outside- 27
Without mulching5.1 cm2.1 cm74%N-0.014kg/ m sq
P- 0.0007 kg/ m sq
K- 3%
25%
68/10/202263.425.212 liters

Result of 2nd 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 2nd 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

Organic mulching
Inorganic mulching
Without mulching

10/10/2022 To 15/10/2022

Observations after 21 days

Sr.NoDateHumidityTemperatureTypes of mulchingAverage height of plantsAverage leaf size of plantsAverage no. of leafQuantity of water per dayWater holding capacity of soilNPK of the soilMoisture content
110/10/202261.6%31
Outside- 27
Organic mulching5.5 cm3 cm8.4 cm8 liters70%N-0.014kg/ m sq
P- 0.0007 kg/ m sq
K- 3%
28%
211/10/202280%21
Outside- 27
312/10/202267.8%28
Outside- 24
Inorganic mulching6.9 cm3 cm15 cm15 liters72%N-0.028 kg/ m sq%
P-0.0021 kg/ sq
K-0.03kg/ m sq
20%
413/10/202268%25
Outside- 24
514/10/202267.7%31
Outside-25
Without mulching7.4 cm6.6 cm6.3 cm9 liters69%N- 0.014kg/ m sq
P-0.0028kg/ m sq
K-0.03 kg / m sq
25%
615/10/202266.630
Outside- 26
2 liters

Result of 3rd 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

Organic mulching
Inorganic mulching
Without mulching

17/10/2022 To 22/10/2022

Observations after 28 days

Sr.NoDateHumidityTemperatureTypes of mulchAverage height of plantsAverage leaf sizeAverage no of leafWater quantity per dayWater holding capacity of soilNPK of the soilMoisture content
117/10/202273.5%30.2
Outside- 28
Organic mulch12.7 cm9.5 cm10.310 liters65%N-0.014kg/m sq P-0.0014kg/m sq
 K-
0.03 kg/m sq
26%
218/10/202221.2
Outside- 26
319/10/202264.2%28
Outside- 25
Inorganic mulch11.5 cm8.4 cm15.99 liters65%N-0.014kg/ m sq
 P-
0.0021kg/ m sq K-0.03kg/ m sq
20%
420/10/20226425
Outside- 27
521/10/202265.2%25
Outside-26
Without mulch13.8 cm6.8cm97 liters65%N-0.014kg/m sq  P-
0.0021kg/ m sq %
K-
0.025-0.03kg/ m sq
25%
622/10/2022

Result of 4th week:

  1. In the 4th 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

Organic ,Inorganic, Without mulching.

24/10/2022 To 30/10/2022

Observations after 35 days

Sr.NoDateHumidityTemperatureTypes of mulchingAverage height of plantsAverage leaf size of plantsAverage no of leafWater quantity per dayWater holding capacity of soilNPK of the soilMoisture content
124/10/2022Organic mulching21.5 cm11.2 cm13.87 liters65%N-0.014kg/m sq
P-0.0014 kg/ m sq
 K-0.03kg/ m sq
38.5%
225/10/202266.6%24
Outside- 25
326/10/202275%25
Outside- 23
Inorganic mulching20.9 cm10.1 cm17.48 liters60%N-0.014kg/ m sq
 P-0.0021 kg/ m sq K-
0.03 kg/ m sq
31.5%
427/10/202278%25
Outside- 21
528/10/202269%28.1
Outside- 29
Without mulching16.1 cm7.3 cm1175%N-0.014 kg/m sq
P-0.0021 kg/ m sq K-
0.025-0.03 kg/ m sq
20.48%
629/10/202258.3%24
Outside-27
8 liters

Result in 5th 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.
Organic mulching
Inorganic mulching
Without mulching

31/10/2022 To 06/11/2022

Observations after 6th week:

Sr.noDateHumidityTemperatureTypes of mulchingAverage height of plantAverage leaf size of leafQuantity of water per dayWater holding capacity NPK in the soil Moisture content in the soil
131/10/202260%25  Organic mulching30.7 cm16.4 cm8 liters80%N-0.042
kg/m sq
P-0.0021kg/ m
sq
K-
0.03 kg/ m sq
35.5%
201/11/202280%22   
302/11/202288.4%26Inorganic mulching26.7 cm14.4 cm6 liters80%N- 0.042
kg/m sq
P-0.0021kg/m sq  
K- 0.03 kg/ m sq
31.4%
403/11/202282%28   
504/11/202284%26Without mulching  60%N- 0.042
kg/ m sq
P-0.0028 kg/ m sq
K-
0.025- 0.03 kg/ m sq
20.5%
605/11/202279%2722 cm10.5 cm6 liters

Result in 6th 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.
Organic mulch
Inorganic mulch
Without mulch

07/11/2022 To 13/10/2022

Harvesting of spinach:

Harvesting of spinach

Parameters after harvesting of spinach :

Sr. NoTypes of mulchAverage water quantityAverage height of plantsAverage leaf lengthAverage leaf area of leaves (sq.cm)Average No of leavesAverage leaf widthWeight
1Organic mulch2.7 liters12.9 cm9.6 cm115.7 sq.cm12.4 cm7.7 cm1.8 kg
2Inorganic mulch3 liters12.3 cm6.6 cm116.3 sq.cm18.1 cm8.4 cm1.5 kg
3Without mulch3.8 liters11.3 cm5.8 cm38.0 sq.cm9.3 cm5.1 cm657 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.