Plant analysis for the comparison of the effects of vermicompost, cow manure and sheep manure on the nutrition content of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)

This research was carried out in 2.5 liter pots under controlled conditions according to the randomized plot design in order to determine the effects of vermicompost, cow and sheep manures on plant nutrient content of spinach. In the study, spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) plants were grown on a single type of soil sample sourced from the Torbalı district of İzmir province which was mixed with five different doses (0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8%) of vermicompost (VC), cow manure (CM) and sheep manure (SM) and the trial was completed after 45 days. The experiment was carried out under controlled conditions in the trial fields of Vermis Tarım ve Hayvancılık San Tic Ltd Şti in district of Torbalı. The organic matter contents of cow manure, sheep manure and vermicompost used in the experiment were 71.56%, 25.15% and 63.1%, respectively; and the content of organic matter of the soil sample was 1.65%. According to the plant analysis results, when fertilizers were compared statistically, highest values were obtained from vermicompost fertilizer (VC) in terms of N, K and Mg; from cow manure (CM) in terms of P, Fe, Zn and Cu; and from sheep manure (SM) in terms of Ca and Mn. When doses were compared statistically, it was determined that the dose of 4% resulted with significantly higher values in terms of examined plant nutrients. Although chemical fertilizers are extensively used in spinach cultivation in Turkey, in this study, the effect of different doses of different organic fertilizers on the nutrient content of the spinach plant was tried to be evaluated by plant analysis. As a conclusion, it was determined that three different organic fertilizers were significantly effective at different levels on the macro and micro plant nutrient contents of the spinach plant.