Improvement of yield and quality of two <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spinacia oleracea</Emphasis> L. varieties by using different fertilizing approaches

The effects of different fertilizers the control with no fertilizer (C), inorganic fertilization (I), combined inorganic and organic fertilizer (IOHumax1) and (IOHumax2)] on yield and nutrients contents of two spinach varieties (“Balady and Virofly”) were investigated. Significant effects of variety were observed on vegetative growth and nutrients contents. While Virofly had significantly higher leaf area (236.96 cm²), stem diameter (7.43 mm) and fresh weight of vegetative and radical parts (15.05 and 0.96 g, respectively), Balady had significantly higher chlorophyll and carotene contents (0.0023 and 0.0018 g/g fw, respectively). No significant impacts of variety on vitamin C, nitrite, nitrate and oxalates contents were observed. IOHumax2 treatment (4 g/l of Humax + 100 mg/l of NH₄NO₃ per plant fertigation^?1) enhanced stem diameter and root growth and significantly improved the yield by produced plants with higher stem length, leaf number and surface area. This treatment improved the quality of plant by increasing vitamin C content and reducing nitrite and oxalates contents. No significant effects of different fertilizers were observed on NO₃ ^? content. A fairly balanced yield/NO₃ ^? and oxalates content can be achieved with combined inorganic and organic fertilizer (IOHumax1) and (IOHumax2).