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Baby spinach is a relatively new crop in South Africa with both commercial significance and reputed health benefits. It is known to assist in combating degenerative conditions associated with ageing, such as heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cataracts and several forms of cancer. Three parallel NPK trials were conducted to investigate the effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) on the growth and development of baby spinach. N and P treatments were arranged as (0, 45, 75, 105, 120 kg.ha -1 N and P), and K treatments were arranged as (0, 63, 85, 127, 148 kg.ha -1) in a randomised complete block designed with four replicates. Results showed that yield, dry matter, chlorophyll content and Leaf Area Index (LAI) were significantly increased by increasing the N application, while K had a significant effect on the LAI but not on yield, dry matter, chlorophyll content or stomatal conductance. Nitrogen treatments quadrupled fresh yield, dry matter and chlorophyll content, reaching maximum impact at 75 kg.ha-1 N. Phosphorus application showed significantly increased yields, dry matter and chlorophyll content, reaching maximum impact at 75 kg.ha-1 P. Therefore, to achieve optimum growth with N and P, 75 kg.ha-1 is recommended. The optimum rates of N, P and K were then used to formulate a NPK combined trial which was arranged as 0, 30:30:40, 45:45:60, 60:60:70, 75:75:90 kg.ha-1 in a randomised complete block design with three replicates. The results showed that maximum impact on yield, chlorophyll content, fresh and dry matter was achieved when combined NPK was applied at 45:45:60 / Agriculture and  Animal Health / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Baby spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is considered to be the one of the extremely nutritious vegetables, rich both in phytochemicals and core nutrients. Nowadays, phytochemicals in plants are raising interest in consumers for their roles in the maintenance of human health. Variation in content of bioactive compounds and core nutrients is the main concern in vegetable production. Factors such as cultural practices specially fertilization, may affect the nutritional and medicinal properties of the plants Therefore, three parallel trials for NPK to investigate the response of baby spinach leaves to nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) on chemical composition were conducted, with treatments arranged as follows: 0, 45, 75, 105, 120 kg·ha-1 N and P and 0, 60, 85, 106, 127, 148 kg·ha-1 K in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The results demonstrated that, application of nitrogenous, phosphorus, potassium fertilizers significantly increased the total phenolic content, total antioxidant activity, total flavonoid content and vitamin C while magnesium, iron, zinc and selenium did not exhibit significant response to all treatments applied. The increase in concentrations on total phenolic content, total antioxidant activity, total flavonoid content and vitamin C was observed, reaching maximum at 45 kg·ha-1 N, 75 kg·ha-1 P and 85 kg·ha-1 K. The optimum rates of 45 kg·ha-1 N, 75 kg·ha-1 P, 85 kg·ha−1 K were then used to formulate the NPK treatment combinations as follows: 0, 30: 30: 40, 45:45:60, 60:60:70, 75:75:90 kg·ha-1, arranged in a RCBD with three replicates. The results showed that total phenolic content, total antioxidant activity , total flavonoid content and vitamin C reached maximum in baby spinach leaves at N45:P45:K60 kg·ha-1 / Agriculture,  Animal Health & Human Ecology / M.Sc. (Agriculture)

Baby spinach is a relatively new crop in South Africa with both commercial significance and reputed health benefits. It is known to assist in combating degenerative conditions associated with ageing, such as heart disease, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cataracts and several forms of cancer. Three parallel NPK trials were conducted to investigate the effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) on the growth and development of baby spinach. N and P treatments were arranged as (0, 45, 75, 105, 120 kg.ha -1 N and P), and K treatments were arranged as (0, 63, 85, 127, 148 kg.ha -1) in a randomised complete block designed with four replicates. Results showed that yield, dry matter, chlorophyll content and Leaf Area Index (LAI) were significantly increased by increasing the N application, while K had a significant effect on the LAI but not on yield, dry matter, chlorophyll content or stomatal conductance. Nitrogen treatments quadrupled fresh yield, dry matter and chlorophyll content, reaching maximum impact at 75 kg.ha-1 N. Phosphorus application showed significantly increased yields, dry matter and chlorophyll content, reaching maximum impact at 75 kg.ha-1 P. Therefore, to achieve optimum growth with N and P, 75 kg.ha-1 is recommended. The optimum rates of N, P and K were then used to formulate a NPK combined trial which was arranged as 0, 30:30:40, 45:45:60, 60:60:70, 75:75:90 kg.ha-1 in a randomised complete block design with three replicates. The results showed that maximum impact on yield, chlorophyll content, fresh and dry matter was achieved when combined NPK was applied at 45:45:60 / Agriculture and  Animal Health / M. Sc. (Agriculture)