Spinach
nil
About
Importance and Introduction:
Spinach occupies an important place in green leafy vegetables. Vitamin A, calcium, iron and fiber are found in abundance in this vegetable, which is very important from the nutritional and medical point of view. In addition, spinach contains plenty of potassium, which is essential for a healthy nervous system. Spinach is originated from Arab When the Arabs conquered Spain, it is said that spinach was introduced with them in Spain and spread from there to other countries. In this regard, it came to be called Spinach in the name of Spain. Spinach crop is cultivated throughout Punjab. The area under cultivation, production and average production of spinach in the last five years is as follows:
year |
Area |
Total Production |
Average production |
|||
|
|
thousand hectares |
thousand acres |
thousand tons |
kilograms per hectare |
Maund (37.3242 kg) per acre |
Maund (40 kg) per acre |
|
2016-17 |
3.726 |
9.207 |
56.14 |
15068 |
163.37 |
152.44 |
|
2017-18 |
3.719 |
9.190 |
54.659 |
14697 |
159.35 |
148.69 |
|
2018-19 |
3.808 |
9.411 |
57.005 |
149.68 |
162.29 |
151.43 |
|
2019-20 |
1.425 |
3.521 |
20.071 |
14086 |
152.72 |
197.12 |
|
2020-21 |
1.794 |
4.440 |
33.857 |
18844 |
204.32 |
190.64 |
Seeds
Seed rate:
The seed rate for summer crop should be 20 to 25 kg per acre and for seasonal crop 10 to 15 kg per acre.
Types:
1۔ Desi palak:
This type is developed by The Institute of Vegetable Research Faisalabad. Its leaves are thick, broad, soft and succulent and their color is dark green. Its production capacity is 35 maund per acre and this variety also has resistance against diseases.
2۔ Kandyari palak:
Its leaves are lobate/serrated and the seeds are thorny. This is a special type of cold weather. Its leaves are soft and good in taste and its yield is less than that of desi spinach.
Cultivation
Preparation of Land:
Fertile, sandy loam and loam soil is suitable for spinach cultivation. Which has the ability to hold water for a long time is good. For the preparation of the land, prepare the land well by mould board plough once and ordinary plough 3 to 4 times. After levelling the land a month before cultivation, add 10 to 15 tons of manure per acre and plough and bury it in the ground. It can be cultivated in Saline-Sodic soil.
Time of sowing:
Spinach can be cultivated from June to October and February to March. Only desi varieties can give suitable results for summer cultivation. Kandyari palak seeds do not germinate in hot weather so cultivate it from October to January.
Method of cultivation:
Divide the well-developed field into small 10-marla plots and make ridges at a distance of 75 cm. On both sides of these ridges, mark lines 2 to 3 cm deep from a wood and put a seed in it. Cover the seeds well by taking soil with the help of hand from the middle of the ridge. In the cold weather, cultivate on level land and make ridges. In addition, mechanized cultivation can also be done.
Diseases
Pests
Weed Control
Hoeing the crop 3 to 4 times to eliminate the weeds.
Irrigation
Irrigation:
The first irrigation of spinach crop should be done immediately after sowing. Keep irrigating every 4 to 5 days in hot weather and apply irrigation as needed in winter i.e. in case of rain and cold weather, the water interval can be increased.
Fertilizers
Use of fertilizers:
Nutrients (kg per acre) |
Amount of fertilizer (bags per acre) |
||
Nitrogen |
Phosphorus |
Potash |
At the time of sowing |
|
20 |
23 |
25 |
Half bag Urea and 1 bag DAP, 1 bag SOP |
Note:
On the first cutting, half bag Urea and then leave one cutting and add half bag urea or 1 bag ammonium sulphate on the second cutting. With the use of nitrogenous fertilizer, the leaves of the crop become larger in size, which leads to higher yields and better prices in the market.
Harvesting
The first harvesting of spinach is usually done about a month after sowing and the subsequent harvests are done at intervals of 20 to 25 days according the growth of the crop.