Effect of Different Planting Material and Methods of Planting on Growth and Yield of Indian Spinach (Basella rubra L.)

In recent years, the demand and the awareness for underexploited vegetables and their nutritional importance is increasing. Hence, with a view to stimulate the production of Indian spinach, a field experiment was conducted at College of Horticulture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Maharashtra in 2023-2024. The eight treatment combinations comprising two different planting materials seedlings (P1) and rooted cuttings (P2) with four various methods of planting viz., flat bed (M1), raised bed (M2), ridges and furrows (M3) and broad ridge (M4) were tested under Factorial Randomized Block Design with three replications. The seedling recorded comparatively maximum stem diameter (12.71mm), number of leaves (68.58) and number of branches per plant (9.08) as compared to rooted cuttings. Similar results were also recorded for yield related attributes. Among the yield attributes maximum herbage yield per plant (247.73g) and total herbage yield per plot (14.86 kg) recorded with seedling. Among methods of planting broad ridge planting recorded significantly highest stem diameter (12.78mm), numbers of leaves (72.83) and number of branches (9.10). Yield parameters viz. total herbage yield per plant (273.03 g) and herbage yield per plot (16.75 kg) was significantly higher with broad ridge planting as compared to flat bed method. Hence, Indian spinach (Basella rubra L.) grown by the seedlings on broad ridges (P1M4) showed better performance with regards to growth and yield attributing parameters especially in areas with high rainfall.