Productivity of spinach beet as influenced by varieties and nutrients in humid tropical conditions of South Kerala

Afield experiment was conducted at College ofAgriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram to assess the influence of varieties and nutrient levels on the growth and leaf yield of spinach beet ( Beta vulgaris L. var. bengalensis ), in split plot design with four replications. The treatments included five varieties (All Green, Punjab Green, Pusa Bharathi, Indam Kolakatta, Trendy) in main plots and three nutrient doses (80:40:80, 60:30:60 and 40:20:40 kg NPK ha^-1) in sub plots. The variety All Green was significantly superior in terms of the number of leaves,leaf area index (LAI) and yield. The maximum leaf yield in All Green was followed by Pusa Bharathi. The effect of the nutrient levels was also significant, superior values for growth and yield were recorded with the highest dose of 80:40:80 kg NPK ha^-1. Among interactions, the combination of Pusa Bharathi and 80:40:80 kg NP Kha^-1, resulted in significantly higher yield satpar with All Green +80:40:80 kg NP Kha^-1. The economics of cultivation assessed in terms of B:C ratio were 1.25 and 1.21 for Pusa Bharathi and All Green at 80:40:80 kg NPK ha^-1, respectively and can be recommended for cultivation in the humid tropical conditions of Kerala.